Bid awarded for Ashwood Park in Otsego

by Joni Astrup

Associate Editor

Plans for Ashwood Park in Otsego are moving ahead, with the City Council awarding bids for construction of the project on April 22.

A total of six bids were received and the City Council awarded the low bid to Vada Contracting LLC of Cokato in the amount of $315,639. Bids ranged as high as $538,564.

The City Council also authorized the purchase and installation of playground equipment from Midwest Playscapes for $216,654.

The 2.1 acre site is located off O’Brian Avenue in the Ashwood neighborhood.

Otsego Parks and Recreation Director Nick Jacobs told the City Council last month that the site is 90% to 95% wooded. Some trees will be removed, but “the park will still maintain its unique characteristics of being probably the most wooded Otsego park,” he said.

It is envisioned as a neighborhood park with a nature theme. Among the amenities will be a traditional playground, a nature play area, shaded picnic and seating areas, a natural surface trail, edible landscaping, multi-sport court and bocce ball court.