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Additional funds for Raymond Community Park are under review due to uncertainty over proposed costs and total funding.
Council members voted to table a decision on the proposed funding change order until their Oct. 14 meeting.
The details
At their Sept. 23 meeting, Prosper Town Council members heard a staff presentation on a request to increase project funding.
The requested $613,160 change order includes:
The future well and pump system will prevent the sod from “future disruption,” according to town documents.
Parks and Recreation Director Dan Baker said due to timing issues and delays, staff is recommending they install sod on the multipurpose fields instead of the originally planned hydromulch.
Council has approved three change orders to the project so far, in addition to the current proposed order and another planned for future expenses related to the water well and pump system.
“Some of those dollars have come from project savings from bond interests and park fees, so these are potential dollars that could be used for Raymond Community Park,” Baker said.
Some context
Council previously approved funding July 22 for additional lighting at the park’s multipurpose fields with funding help through a donation from the Prosper Area Soccer Organization, bringing the park’s budget to $26.257 million, according to town documents.
Baker said the cost of the lighting increased due to steel and aluminum tariffs, which increased from 25% to 50% in June.
Mayor David Bristol said July 22 the project has been difficult in many areas as it progressed and that it is something they’re “going to probably need to just move on [from] for the benefit of the community.”
What they’re saying
Council member Marcus Ray said he is concerned that the funding sources identified by staff only cover the estimated costs required.
Additionally, Ray said the project was initially allocated $15 million as part of the 2020 bond program, and the project’s budget has increased multiple times as the town has added additional aspects to the park.
“My concern is that we started at $15 million, and we are now close to $27 million,” Ray said. “There’s a significant increase over this duration.”
Town Manager Mario Canizares said what he has heard from town officials is that the project has been a "death by a thousand cuts” and a “slow drip,” due to ongoing additions and delays.
Bristol said he is frustrated with the project’s financial details and the ongoing need for additional funding.
“It’s very difficult to keep going back to the well for more money on this particular project,” Bristol said. “It seems to be extraordinarily difficult to get a handle on.”
Ray said he reached out to three Parks and Recreation Board members about their decision to approve the change order, but learned they had not voted on the order and were unaware it was going before council.
Zooming in
Ray also expressed concern about approving the current change order as it would trigger putting the well construction contract out to bid, according to town documents.
“We’re talking about the $2.7 [million for the well] like it’s already spent,” Ray said. “It’s not been approved yet ... How come we’re going to be talking about Change Order No. 5 at a future date, approval date to be determined, knowing that we’re going to have to put that out to bid?”
Canizares said he requested adding the future change order in order to keep council informed throughout the process.
“This is not to point fingers, I mean, [but] for me, it’s just ... [to have] full transparency to explain to the council that we do potentially have a fifth change order,” Canizares said.
Looking ahead
The item will go before the Parks and Recreation Board at its Oct. 9 meeting, prior to Town Council’s meeting on Oct. 14.
The park is anticipated to open in December, but will have potential additions, including the well and irrigation system. Additionally, the pickleball and tennis courts are expected to open in late November, according to town documents.
