Commissioners approve splash pad contract for Young Park

A contract for $140,000 to Benchmark Enterprises, LLC, has been approved by the City Commission for the construction and installation of a splash pad in Young Park.

The ADA-compliant splash pad will be paid for through the city’s hotel/motel tax for tourism and recreation.

This park will be the city’s third splash pad with the other two in War Memorial Park and Dan Moran Park. A fourth location budgeted for this fiscal year is located in Attucks Park. The Attucks Park project will be a blend of local and federal funding.

These two newest splash pads are smaller  than the first two, since they are built in neighborhood parks rather than regional parks. As a result, they also are less expensive.

Requests for proposals were sent  to eight vendors and four vendors responded with comprehensive and detailed proposals. Three of those proposals were at or less than the budgeted $140,000, and one proposal exceeded the budget at $142,833.

Construction of the splash  pad is expected to be completed by July 1.