City of Alamo Revisiting Costs for Park Upgrade
It’s back to the drawing board for the Alamo City Council after all bids for a construction project at Eastside Park came in over budget. The bids were opened in a called session on May 8, and all three bids from area construction firms were substantially over the estimated construction cost of $2 million.
The projected work includes building an amphitheater, a shelter over the basketball court, concrete work and a football field. City Manager Jeff Floyd said the City will revisit the plans for the project to see where adjustments can be made before resubmitting the revised project for new bids.
The city-owned park located at 120 East Railroad Street is undergoing major upgrades via a $2.2 million state grant being administered through the Heart of Georgia Regional Commission (HOGARC). Expenses incurred by the City are reimbursable through the grant after receipts are submitted to HOGARC. Financing for the work is part of a $225 million grant package awarded to 142 qualified projects across the state for improving neighborhood assets like parks, recreational facilities, sidewalks, and healthy food access in communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically, the grant was originally intended to provide sidewalks between the park and nearby Wheeler County School, a shelter over the basketball court, an outdoor amphitheater, a football field with bleachers which is anticipated to become the home of a new Youth league, fencing around the park, and additional parking. The civil engineering firm of M.E. Sack in Hinesville is overseeing the park upgrade.
Eastside Park has already benefitted from a previous grant through the state Department of Natural Resources, which provided a splash pad, picnic pavilions with grills, parking, and a refurbished basketball court. Floyd said the splash pad at the park will be open this summer.
In its regular session on May 19, the City Council accepted a bid from Glenville Electric Motors of $8,375 for parts to repair a pump at lift station number 4 and approved an allocation of $6,500 to fund Wheeler County Library’s summer reading program and library operations.
The Council also discussed plans for the annual Fireworks display and festival in downtown Alamo, which is scheduled on June 28, the last Saturday in June, ahead of the July Fourth Holiday. The event offers live entertainment, vendors with food and rides, and a spectacular fireworks display at dusk. The event is coordinated by the Alamo Volunteer Fire Department.
