Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with HNTB Ohio, Inc. for the Big Walnut Trail - Cherrybottom Park to Morse Road - Preliminary Engineering Project. The contract amount is $689,366.00, with a contingency of $36,303.00, for a total of $725,669.00 being authorized by this ordinance.
The northern reach of the Big Walnut Trail is developing into one of the region’s most scenic and accessible greenways in Central Ohio. This project will be a key part of the trail extending from the south side of Cherrybottom Park to the northern limits of the City of Gahanna’s Big Walnut Trail at Morse Road. Over 31,000 residents of the northeast area live within proximity to this project and will be within a few minutes of access to the Alum Creek Trail. Several key destinations will be linked by this project, including job and commercial centers along Morse Road, at Easton, and in Gahanna. Trail users will have access to four major Columbus and Gahanna parks that include Cherrybotttom Park, Blendon Woods Metro Park, Academy Park, and Woodside Green Park. There will also be improved connectivity to multiple neighborhoods and the Morse Road transit corridor.
This project has been awarded $4.7 million from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Attributable Funds that will be used towards construction in 2030. The project begins in Cherrybottom Park, where it will connect to the Big Walnut Trail from the Little Turtle neighborhood to the Alum Creek Trail. From there, the trail will travel along Big Walnut Creek to connect to Appian Way where it will head south as a separated trail to Morse Road. An existing crosswalk will be enhanced to enable users to get to the south side of Morse Road and travel eastward back to Big Walnut Creek.
This contract is to perform preliminary engineering, environmental studies, and community engagement to meet federal grant requirements. There will be a planned modification in Fall 2026 for detailed design services.
Vendor Bid/Proposal Submissions (Office of Diversity and Inclusion designation status): Bids were advertised through Vendor Services and Bonfire, in accordance with City Code Section 329, on November 3, 2025 and received by the Recreation and Parks Department on December 4, 2025. Bids were received from the following companies:
HNTB Ohio, Inc.
Compass Ingrastructure Group
Woolpert, Inc.
DLZ Corp
American Structurepoint, Inc.
GPD Group
Stantec
Of note, professional service contracts are quality based selections and not based on price. Costs were not requested nor were they part of this evaluation.
In accordance with City Code, a selection team evaluated the proposals and recommended HNTB Ohio, Inc. be selected to perform the work. The firm was chosen based on their referenced projects, experience, qualifications, availability, timeline and project approach.
Principal Parties:
HNTB Ohio, Inc.
65 East State Street, Suite 2100
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Jennifer Gallagher, (614) 264-8163
Contract Compliance Number: 008025
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: April 18, 2026
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested in order to comply with the schedule requirements of the grant agreement for construction.
Benefits to the Public: Access to trails and key destinations is one of the top-rated priorities requested by Columbus residents. This project will provide significant connectivity for residents in the Appian and Blendon Woods communities by extending existing regional trail access through several parks and neighborhoods.
Community Input/Issues: As part of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission grant application process, the department received dozens of letters of support for this project from the members of the neighboring communities and organizations.
Area(s) Affected: Rocky Fork-Blacklick (33)
Master Plan Relation: This project supports the Department’s Master Plan by improving access to trails and greenways corridors. It provides equitable and safe access to the trail system for underserved communities.
Fiscal Impact: $725,669.00 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of this contract.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with HNTB Ohio, Inc. for the Big Walnut Trail - Cherrybottom Park to Morse Road - Preliminary Engineering Project; to authorize the transfer of $725,669.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to authorize the amendment of the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $725,669.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($725,669.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with HNTB Ohio, Inc. for the Big Walnut Trail - Cherrybottom Park to Morse Road - Preliminary Engineering Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $725,669.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the amendment of the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1790-2025 in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $725,669.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with HNTB Ohio, Inc. in order to comply with the schedule requirements of the grant agreement for construction, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare and, NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department be and is hereby authorized to enter into contract with HNTB Ohio, Inc. for the Big Walnut Trail - Cherrybottom Park to Morse Road - Preliminary Engineering Project.
SECTION 2. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 5. That the transfer of $725,669.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1790-2025 is hereby amended as follows in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this ordinance and future projects.
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current Revised Authority / Current Remaining Authority / Change / Amended Revised Authority / Amended Remaining Authority
Fund 7702 / P200039-100000 / Marion-Franklin Pool (Voted Carryover) / $488,541 / $488,541 / ($488,541) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511075-100000 / Hoover Mudflats Boardwalk (Voted Carryover) / $739,628 / $739,628 / ($237,128) / $502,500 / $502,500
Fund 7702 / P512051-100000 / Big Walnut Trail - Cherrybottom Park to Morse Road (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $725,669 / $725,669 / $725,669
SECTION 7. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $725,669.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.