The Evans Park Renovation project will replace the existing playground equipment, play pit, pavilion, lighting, drinking fountain, benches, picnic tables; and implement walkway improvements, resurface the multi-use court, select erosion control and restoration in creek, and replace landscape and irrigation. The item was once programmed as a capital maintenance fund item, then moved into the 2019 Bond Program centered on renovations, and was approved by the voters in May, 2019.
The existing park was first built in 1974 and was updated in 1995. The playground equipment, pavilion, and lighting fixtures have reached their safe life expectancy and are no longer compliant with contemporary accessible and safety codes. Modifications to these assets trigger full compliance with current accessibility and safety codes which translates into a need for full replacement. Community outreach with the surrounding neighborhood was engaged between August and December of 2018. The resulting design is a direct reflection of their comments and feedback for updated playground equipment, expanded shade, and walkway extensions to complete park access.
The Parks and Recreation Department opened bids on October 15, 2020 for the Evans Park Renovation project. The lowest responsive and responsible bid was submitted by Eaton Construction in the amount of $972,748. There were a total of 1,116 vendors reached from IonWave for this project; One (1) bidder did not provide the required bid bond and was deemed non-responsive; 19 complete bids were received for the project as shown in the attached bid recap. .
There are several benefits to this renovation project. The park walkways and playground will be brought up to current accessibility and safety codes. The replacement irrigation and lighting systems will be more efficient in their usage of water and electricity, respectively. Construction work implemented to address erosion issues in the creek will stabilize affected creek banks. If the project does not proceed, there are several adverse effects. The aging play equipment, which is beyond its lifecycle, cannot be maintained to manufacturer safety standards and may necessitate removal from the park without replacement. Park features that are currently non-compliant with ADA standards like walkways, would remain so. Further, erosive scour within the creek channel will continue to progress and will ultimately cause adjacent property damage.