Residents could have access to Sterkel Community Park for All in late September

People should be able to use the Sterkel Community Park for All by the end of September.

Bob Bianchi, engineer for the city of Mansfield, gave the Board of Control an update at Tuesday morning's meeting. The board then approved a bid for Phase II of the project.

"Phase I will be completed in about three to four weeks, and Phase II will be started in about six to seven weeks," Bianchi said after the meeting. "The park will not be open until Phase II is complete."

The engineer estimated Phase II would be complete around Sept. 30. It will consist of site preparation, grading, minor electrical connections and installation of equipment.

Residents of all ages and levels of abilities will be able to visit and enjoy the Sterkel Community Park for All, located on 20 acres off Hillcrest Street, in the heart of the city.

Phase 1 includes pickleball courts, fitness equipment under roof, a large pavilion, ping pong tables, benches and restrooms.

Phases 2 and 3 will include the primary playground area, both for younger and older children.

The board of control, consisting of Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry, Finance Director Kelly Blankenship and Safety Service Director Keith Porch, accepted a bid of $263,662.77 from Ironsite Inc., based in Sunbury, for Phase II. The company turned in the lowest of three bids.

"They've done a lot of park projects," Bianchi said of Ironsite Inc. "Actually, they're working on a $10 million project right now for the city of Columbus. "They're extremely qualified."

Bianchi said Richland County Developmental Disabilities (Richland Newhope) wanted to pursue only the base bid.

He noted the city of Mansfield is providing $500,000 over three years from a Richland County Foundation grant and $190,000 from American Rescue Plan Act funds. Bianchi said Phase II will end the city's involvement in the project, other than upkeep.

Fundraising for park was downsized from $5.4M to $4.6M

Officials broke ground on the project last June. The initial fundraising goal was $5.4 million, but that was downsized to $4.6 million. That goal has been met, but plans for two more phases that would include a nature course and an obstacle course have been put aside.

"We're going to exhaust the money that we've raised," said Michele Giess, Richland Newhope superintendent. She added Phases II and III are being combined to include the playground area.

In other business, Bianchi told the board of control that the lone bid for improvements to the municipal building came in well above estimates.

The Adena Corp. submitted a bid of $4.9 million, while the city estimated $3.5 million.

"That amount exceeds the 20% threshold as established by state statute, so we are prohibited to award this bid," Bianchi said. "We will have to re-bid."

The board of control took no action.

After the meeting, the city engineer listed some of the proposed municipal building improvements that include a retaining wall on the east side, a mezzanine, windows, a sanitary sewer system to serve floors 4-9, renovations to city council chambers and foundation work on the west side.

Money for the project is coming from ARPA dollars. Funds have to be procured by the end of this year, and the project has to be finished by the end of 2026.

The board of control also approved a change order for improvements to the water treatment plant. The original contract was for $29.8 million. The new price, including the change order, is $29,917.953.

Bianchi said some equipment is taking longer to procure, something that is out of the control of contractors Shook Construction.

With the change order, the project now is slated for a completion date of March 31, 2025. It had been Sept. 25 of this year.

mcaudill@gannett.com

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