Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Parks & Recreation Department

DATE:           April 11, 2012

TO:              Dave Corliss, City Manager,

Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager

                             Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager

                   Ernie Shaw, Interim Director Parks & Recreation

FROM:          Mark Hecker, Assistant Director Parks & Recreation

RE:               Design / Build Services – Deerfield Skate Park

Please include the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at the April 17^th, 2012, meeting:

Project Description

The City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department solicited proposals from qualified skate park design / build firms to make needed repairs and improvements to the Centennial Skate Park.  Three firms were prequalified to submit proposal. Hardcore Design Studios from Joplin, Missouri; Evergreen Skateparks from Portland, Oregon; and Whoskates from Kennebunkport, Maine.  All of these firms travel across the country to design and build skate parks. Two firms were interviewed by a 5-person team comprised of parks & recreation staff and local skaters. All participants of the team agreed Whoskates should be the recommended contractor for the project. In March the City Commission authorized the City Manager to negotiate a contract with Whoskates for $125,000 to improve the Centennial Skate Park. The firm is currently in town and working with staff and local skaters to finalizing designs for that park.

Through neighborhood discussions of the Deerfield Park master plan, there is still a great deal of interest in maintaining a smaller skate facility in Deerfield Park. The existing facility was recently removed due to the poor condition of the concrete surface. When replaced, this park would be designed primarily for elementary school aged kids. Since Whoskates is already in town working on the Centennial project, the parks & recreation staff asked the firm to give us a proposal for a $30,000 skate facility at Deerfield Park. Whoskates has provided the attached design that would fit the space requirements and design criteria for the park, and has been approved by the local skating community.  The firm would be able to build this skate facility at the same time they construct the Centennial Park facility.

Staff recommends taking advantage of this unique opportunity to have this nationally recognized skate park firm design and build this small neighborhood facility at Deerfield Park.

Project Funding

The Deerfield Park renovation was approved by the City Commission and was bond funded at a total cost of $150,000 for design and upgrade of facilities in the park. The skate facility was one of the facilities scheduled for improvement.

Action Request

Authorize staff to negotiate a contract and issues a purchase order for $30,000 to Whoskates for the design / build services to improve the Deerfield Skate Park.