Park Board Awards Improvement Contract

(posted Oct 10)

The Speedway Parks and Recreation Board voted 5-0 to accept Calumet's $497,821 bid package for improvements to Meadowood and Leonard parks. The board's October 6 approval included using concrete pavers as well as moving the Comcast service road at Leonard Park from 15th Street to a path between the east ball diamond and play ground. The contract also includes improving the nine cross walks at Leonard and Meadowood. American Structurepoint's Daryn Fair said the cross-walks will serve as "wayfinders" to the parks.

The board members deliberated over the four bids from Calumet, Glenroy, Globe, and Hurco.

Hurco submitted the lowest base bid of $448,066. Lawrence said after adding cross walk concrete pavers, Hurco's bid jumped to $500,782. Calumet's base bid with the service road was $456,259. Globe and Glenroy submitted base bids of $521,960 and $646,000, respectively.

The board decided to go with pavers instead of DuraTherm as a cost savings. Board member Lisa Edington did not want to sacrifice park equipment for the additional expense to use DuraTherm, which would have added $12,616 to Calumet's bid. Hurco's $509,413 bid was the lowest for DuraTherm.

Town Manager Barbara Lawrence said she was an advocate for DuraTherm but now supported the pavers due to the cost. She said the town council is proposing an infrastructure advisory committee to give the town a feel, such as unique signage in the Old Speedway City Neighborhood or uniform street signs.

Fair explained the rain gardens will be at Leonard and Meadowood parks. Leonard will serve more as a educational site while Meadowood will function as a rain garden to absorb the drainage. The project is still pending review from Marion County Soil and Water Conversation. Fair said "The best case scenario" is Calumet could begin next Tuesday (October 14). Fair doubted if Calumet would drop other projects they are doing now because they probably don't think they won the bid.

Ray Lawrence indicated that phase one and payment of the legal and finance fees have cost about $800,000 of the $1.9 million bond. The town will send notice to Calumet to start the project.

Company Base for both parks Base + pavers Base + Dura
Calumet 456,529 497,821 510,437
Glenroy 646.000 687,000 703,000
Globe 521,960 none 575,000
Hurco 448,066 500,782 509,413