The design services requests for proposals for the project to improve the south end of Brit Spaugh Park were released Tuesday morning, Great Bend Interim City Administrator Logan Burns told the City Council Monday night. They are to be turned in by June 30, and the RFPs will be opened at 2 p.m.
“After that, we will bring that back to council for final approval,” he said.
This is the $2 million project to rejuvenate the park, of which the city’s portion is about $742,000. The project is being undertaken in cooperation with the Great Bend Recreation Commission, which pledged $345,700 for playground equipment.
Included in this effort are bleachers, shade structures, outdoor basketball and pickleball courts, a playground, mini-soccer pitches and restrooms. The horseshoe pits would be moved and the small baseball field would be eliminated.
The city has already approved the creation of construction drawings come with a $100,000 price tag.
This is part of the 10-year Quality of Life Master Plans funded by the .15% Quality of Life sales tax approved by voters in November 2021. The city is also taking private donations for the effort.
Splashpad concept received by city
The City of Great Bend has received the first design concepts for the design of a new splashpad from Athco of Lenexa, Interim City Administrator Logan Burs said in his report to the City Council Monday night.
The city is eying the $650,000 project for the north side of Veterans Memorial Park.
“I’m looking at bringing this back at the next council meeting unless directed otherwise,” he said. Shade structures and benches will be considered at a later date.
“As long as we can get the splashpad design going, that’s what I’m really looking for,” Burns said.
They are looking to have that open for Memorial Day 2024. There’s an outside chance that they can get the pad started towards the end of this year.
The work is part of the 10-year Quality of Life Master Plan that includes a myriad of projects funded by the .15% Quality of Life sales tax approved by voters in November 2021.
New scoreboard installed
There is a new scoreboard installed at Veterans Memorial Park’s Al Burns Field, thanks to the efforts of the Great Bend Bat Cats baseball team and the city of Great Bend, Interim City Administrator Logan Burns said, giving an update to the City Council Monday night.
It was wired in and ready for the team’s home opener Thursday night against the Hutchinson Monarchs.
The cost of the scoreboard came to about $36,000, Burns said. The city covered around $12,000 for the installation and the Bat Cats, which held a series of fundraisers, covered the rest.
“It looks nice,” said Ward 2 Councilwoman Jolene Biggs.
“They got it up quickly, too,” Burns said.
Progress continues on Justice Center
The Justice Center is moving along, Great Bend Interim City Administrator Logan Burns said, addressing the City Council Monday night.
This is the nearly $9 million, 20,000-square-foot facility at 12th and Baker that will house the Police Station and Municipal Court. Work started last September and it should be completed by August.
“The installation of drywall is continuing inside, and the sheetrock work is nearing completion,” he said. Painting is beginning this week on the court side.”
He said they’re looking to fire up the rooftop units probably next week to start getting the space air conditioned.
The Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS) is approximately 80% complete, Burns said. The whether “has kind of played havoc with them over the past week or so.”
Site work is set to begin next week. “They’re going be taken out approximately 20 inches (of concrete) in that parking lot. So it’s going to be interesting to see.”
Wichita construction firm McCown Gordon is the project manager. GLMV Architecture of Wichita was selected as the architect.
