It will add about 10 extra days to the construction calendar and more than $150,000 to the bill, but construction of picnic and shelter facilities is expected to make a future sports area on the south edge of Great Bend more popular with visitors.
The Great Bend City Council, Monday night, approved adding picnic areas to the baseball complex, under construction on a 60-acre site just off south McKinley.
City Administrator Howard Partington explained the alternate bid for the complex will feature three picnic canopy structures that will each include a decorative shelter, table, seating and electric lighting. The picnic areas will be handicapped accessible, the city administrator added.
The facilities will add to the usefulness of the baseball complex because they will provide an additional seating area and more shade, and that is going to be important for the comfort of those who would travel to Great Bend for baseball tournaments. According to information from Partington, the city received bids from C.V. Cale, Inc. in August and the bids included alternates that featured this addition.
The bid for these picnic features is $159,489, it was reported.
In August, the council approved a base bid of $1,401,809 from C.V. Cale, Inc. for the construction of bleachers, canopies, a plaza area, restrooms and a concessions area. This newest $159,489 bid will be added to that.
Partington reported in August that there were six bidders on the total project.
The site for the baseball complex is just west of McKinley and north of Railroad Avenue. Construction is planned to be completed in time for the facility to be used for tournaments next baseball season, it was reported earlier.