A designer and builder has been approved for the new skatepark in Rockwood.
On July 11 Guelph-Eramosa council passed a resolution to accept a $349,927 proposal from New Line Skateparks Inc. for the new skatepark at Rockmosa Park.
“They have over 200 construction projects in their portfolio that they’ve successfully completed,” parks and recreation director Robin Milne said at the meeting.
New Line Skateparks Inc. has completed skateparks in Acton, Orangeville, Brantford and Waterloo, Milne said. The company also designed the new Guelph skatepark but was not contracted to complete the construction.
Despite 16 companies picking up requests for proposals (RFPs) New Line Skateparks Inc. was the only one to actually submit a bid by the deadline on June 29.
“I feel from the research that I’ve done and my experience in the field and just looking at projects across North America, these are the players in the game,” Milne said.
“I’m completely confident moving forward with New Line Skateparks and I think they’ll deliver a fantastic product.”
Because the township was asking for an RFP, it revealed the $350,00 budget and asked the companies to outline what they would do for the price.
The project will have budget carryover into 2017. However, the company is separating its design costs from its construction costs so the township can continue to apply for potential grants up until it breaks ground on the park. The township is still waiting to hear about its Canada 150 grant application for the skatepark.
The tentative schedule for the skatepark includes:
– community consultation around the design, launching in early September and going through to early October;
– detailed design taking place in November;
– tender going out to subcontractors in December; and
– construction in spring 2017.
According to the 2016 township budget $60,028 of the total cost will come from reserves, $73,530 from development charges, $150,000 from potential grants, and $66,442 potentially coming from community fundraising. Mayor Chris White has suggested that if the grants and fundraising do not come through the township could use the Rockwood Hydro Fund.
Rockmosa Park update
Councillor Mark Bouwmeester asked Milne for a Rockmosa Park update.
Milne said a geotechnical survey was completed in April and then tests were done for bedrock, soil depth and permeability.
It was decided that because there’s bedrock below the surface at Rockmosa and the storm sewers on site are quite shallow, storm ponds were they best way to deal with potential run-off.
“I’m happy with the design they’ve come up with in terms of storm water management,” Milne said. “I think it adds some diversity and some naturalization to the property.”
He added, “There’s going to be some ponding areas, that was the only way we could deal with it was through storm water management ponds, which is typical on any site plan that comes through.”
Milne said he’d like to see the realignment of the front entrance and the rear parking lot near the splash pad by the end of this year.
He also said fill soil may be brought in depending on whether he can find an appropriate supplier.
Milne also said the floors in Rockmosa have been redone and the walls repainted. A wedding was scheduled to take place in the hall the weekend of July 16 and on July 11 Milne said his crews were on schedule to have the hall ready for the festivities.
“It looks like a new room really,” he said. “It looks fantastic.”
