Construction of the new park began January 2020. The park is expected to open spring of 2021.
What was a parking lot is now taking shape into our newest downtown park. The foundation for the Café pavilion, located at the southwest corner of the site, is forming to reveal the outline of the building, alongside the underground mechanical room.
On January 28, the first two trusses for the pedestrian bridge landed onto the steel piers, marking a significant milestone for the park. The frame for a large netted hammock was also installed connecting the two trusses. The remaining trusses for the bridge will be trucked and craned to the site in the coming weeks.
The new park design was approved by Park Board Commissioners in May 2016. Since then, staff have evolved the detailed design and in May 2018 received development and building permits.
The board received pricing from pre-qualified contractors in September 2018. However, the bids exceeded the project budget. In early 2019, staff selected a construction manager from one of the pre-qualified contractors who worked with a design consultant to revise the design and deliver the project within the Park Board’s construction budget.
December 11, 2019, the Park Board and City Council respectively approved the contract award for the construction of the new park at Smithe and Richards.
