Local contractor wins park project

The same construction company that developed Corning's newest water well has won the bid to construct the first phase of the 18.5-acre Corning Community Park project.

The City Council on Tuesday awarded the bid to Kendel Trent Construction of Gerber.

The city received six bids on the project, ranging from $2.9 million to Trent's bid of $1.84 million.

Funding for the project is through a $4.3 million state grant awarded to the city in November 2010.

Phase one of the park project, located south of Jewitt Creek and east of Toomes Avenue, will include the Skate and Bike Park, landscaping and irrigation, signs, drinking fountains, barbecue pit, benches and picnic tables, sidewalks, a pathway, a multi-purpose court, parking lot, restrooms, foundations for the gazebo and playground area and solar-powered lighting.

Additionally, the construction company will be responsible for preparing and clearing the park site prior to construction.

The city has already paid out nearly $1 million on the project.

In a report to the council, City Manager John Brewer said the funds went to property acquisition, purchasing the gazebo, rubber bark, playground equipment and installation, and the landscape plans.

"Compiling the project plans and specifications for this multi-faceted project has been a challenge," Brewer said.

One of those challenges is making sure no dirt or construction debris makes its was into Jewitt Creek during the construction process.

Before the construction company can even start moving dirt it will have to submit a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan to the regional Environmental Protection Agency.

"As soon as those plans are approved, which could take several weeks, we can start moving dirt," said City Engineer Ed Anderson. "I think we could be looking at the first of May to start work."

In the meantime, city staff will be meeting with Kendel Trent Construction and other involved parties to coordinate the upcoming work.

City Planner John Stoufer believes it will take six to eight months to complete phase one.

As all of this is taking place, naming the park is still up in the air.

School students submitted ideas for naming the park, but those were tabled for the possibility of giving names to different areas of the park.

In January, the city proposed having people in the community submit name ideas for the park, and then the City Council would make a decision from those suggestions in February.

Students submitted names such as Bud Gott Community Park, The Bud Gott Memorial Park, The Great Olive Park, and Kids Love It Park.

"That date has come and gone," Brewer said. "We just haven't got around to that yet. But it is still something we are working on."

The estimated cost for phase two is $1.8 million.

Phase two is situated on the east side of Jewitt Creek and west of