In 2019 the City Commission approved the City's Five-Year Parks and Recreation Master Plan which included the Tourist Park Land Use Action Plan. This plan calls for a division between the camping portion of the park and the day-use portion of the park, and construction of a new day-use playground.
The City received a Game-Time grant for the purchase of a majority of the playground equipment which has been in storage. The City also received a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Passport grant for installation of the equipment in the amount of $45,000.
The Commission approved a contract for Sanders and Czapski Associates to design and oversee the construction of the playground. Through the design process staff has worked with Sanders and Czapski Associates to add accessible surfacing and elements consistent with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. In April of 2023 the City Commission authorized a budget adjustment in the amount of $110,000.00 to accommodate the engineers estimate of costs. Staff advertised a request for proposals due May 3, 2023 for construction of the playground. Associated Constructors was the only qualified bid at $311,000.00. This was deemed outside of the budget.
Staff worked with the DNR and Sanders and Czapski to revise the site plan and scope of work. Staff advertised a second request for proposals for construction with a due date of February 16, 2024. The City received two qualified bids:
- Great Lakes Recreation - $186,183.00
- Sinclair Recreation - $184,900.00
Staff is recommending Sinclair Recreation be awarded as low bidder contingent upon DNR approval of the bid package. This will require a budget adjustment of $120,000.00 for this contract and additional site work not included in this request for proposals. The Tourist Park Enterprise fund has sufficient balance to accommodate this budget adjustment.
Staff has worked with the City Attorney and Sinclair Recreation to develop a standard construction contract.