Contract approved for park improvements
By Randy Bell
The City of Clinton is moving ahead with the first phase of park improvements funded by revenue from the two per cent restaurant tax. But some of the more expensive projects in the initial package will have to wait.
Mid-State Construction of MS LLC has been awarded a contract for $3,226,000 to build new pickleball courts where the existing ones are located at Kids Towne and to construct a pavilion and restrooms at the pickleball complex, along with restrooms at softball fields numbers 5 and 6 at Traceway Park and restrooms at baseball field number 10 at Traceway. Left off the list were a pavilion, concession building and restrooms at soccer field number 5 and restrooms, a concession building and an upstairs meeting room/storage area at the softball four-plex, both at Traceway.
Parks and Recreation Director Courtney Nunn says they felt the bids on those projects were too high, at about $1 million each.
“We’ll continue finding the funding for that,” she says. “And when we put them out for bid [again], we’ll put them out for bid separately.”
That’s aimed at encouraging residential contractors who have commercial licenses to get involved, doing the work at what the City hopes will be a lower price.
“It’s just amazing, the cost of how much things have escalated, everywhere,” says Mayor Phil Fisher. “I want to get those two [other projects] built and bid them out as quickly as we can, so that they can get started, too. I would love to have it all done with the rest of the stuff. But that may be a bridge too far. We’re certainly going to push it.”
According to Nunn, Mid-State has 270 days to finish its work. She’ll be checking the calendar for tournaments and events before scheduling the Traceway projects.
“We’re going to try to avoid interfering with any of our recreation programs,” she says.
Pickleball enthusiasts won’t be as lucky. The four existing courts at Kids Towne will have to be closed when the work gets underway to expand them to eight courts.
“I know that there will be some people who will be disappointed, but, if they’ll hang in there with us, we’ll have them a better place to play pickleball,” Nunn promises.
While all of those park improvements are being funded with the restaurant tax, Clinton has gotten an unexpected windfall to add shade structures and educational signage at Kids Towne. Hinds County is contributing $40,000 for those projects.
SIDEBAR:
Upcoming park projects:
Expanding four pickleball courts to eight at Kids Towne
Constructing a pavilion at the pickleball complex
Constructing restrooms at:
The pickleball complex
Softball fields #5 and #6 at Traceway
Baseball field #10 at Traceway
Park projects to be completed at a later date at Traceway:
Construction of a pavilion at soccer field #5
Construction of a concession building and restrooms at soccer field #5
Construction of a concession building, restrooms and an upstairs meeting room/storage area at the softball four-plex
