Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with The EDGE Group, Inc. for the Mason Run Park Development Project. The contract amount is $354,090.00, with a contingency of $69,000.00, for a total of $423,090.00 being authorized by this ordinance.
Acquired by Columbus Recreation and Parks in 2022, Mason Run Park is a 78-acre conservation area and future community park. It is one of the last undeveloped woodlands in the Mid East Community. This park will provide safe and accessible youth sports programming and active park amenities. These amenities will consist of multipurpose sports fields, hard courts, play spaces, and fitness spaces. Amenities will also include restored natural areas, creating a series of paths and trails through the woodlands. These paths and trails will provide both passive recreation within the park and improved community connectivity from Kimberly Parkway to Hamilton Road and the Eastland Mall Property. Parking will also be provided. Once the design is complete, Recreation and Parks anticipates bidding construction in the fourth quarter of 2026 and completing construction in winter 2027-2028.
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 July 17, 2025, and received by the Recreation and Parks Department on August 7, 2025. Bids were received from the following companies:
The EDGE Group, Inc.
Designing Local
Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering, Inc
SWA Group
Of note, professional services 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 The EDGE Group, 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:
The EDGE Group, Inc.
330 West Spring Street, Suite 350
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Doug Boyer, 614-466-3343
Contract Compliance Number: 001500
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: April 25, 2026
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to allow time for detailed design of the park and its stormwater mitigation, as it must coordinate with the design of the Department of Public Service's adjacent regional retention basin, and to allow Mason Run to take on the sports programming that will no longer be available at nearby Helsel Park due to construction in fall of 2026.
Benefits to the Public: This project will provide hard courts, playgrounds, and other active recreation amenities that the community has requested.
Community Input/Issues: Extensive engagement efforts having taken place with the Eastland for Everyone Community Plan. There will also be additional open houses and opportunities for further input as the design progresses.
Area(s) Affected: Mid East (57)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by nurturing an active and healthy community and bringing nature into focus.
Fiscal Impact: $33,344.11 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 to meet the financial obligations of a portion of this expenditure. The remaining funds, in the amount of $389,745.89, will not be available to the Recreation and Parks Department until the proceeds of the 2024-2025 bond sale are available at a future date. Therefore, it is necessary to certify the required funds against the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099. Upon the sale of bonds, this will be reimbursed. There is a total of $423,090.00 available for this project.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with The EDGE Group, Inc. for the Mason Run Park Development Project; to authorize the transfer of $389,409.08 between the General Fund Income Tax Set Aside Subfund and the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund; to authorize the appropriation of $389,409.08 in the Income Tax Set Aside Subfund and Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to authorize the appropriation of $33,344.11 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the transfer of $33,344.11 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the amendment of the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $423,090.00 from the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund and Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($423,090.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with The EDGE Group, Inc. for the Mason Run Park Development - Professional Design Services Project; and
WHEREAS, the City anticipates incurring certain Original Expenditures (as defined in Section 1.150-2(c) of the Treasury Regulations (the "Treasury Regulations") promulgated pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, with respect to the construction of the project described in this ordinance (the "Project"); and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $389,745.89 between the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099, and the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund, Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, funds will need to be appropriated within the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099 and within the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund, Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, the City will reimburse the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099; and
WHEREAS, this transfer should be considered as a temporary funding method; and
WHEREAS, the aggregated principal amount of obligations which the City will issue to finance this project is presently expected not to exceed $423,090.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of $33,344.11 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $33,344.11 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; 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, 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 The EDGE Group, Inc. in order to allow time for detailed design of the park and its stormwater mitigation, as it must coordinate with the design of the Department of Public Service's adjacent regional retention basin, and to allow Mason Run to take on the sports programming that will no longer be available at nearby Helsel Park due to construction in fall of 2026, all for the immediate 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 The EDGE Group, Inc. for the Mason Run Park Development 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 appropriation of $33,344.11 is authorized within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the transfer of $33,344.11, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the transfer of $389,745.89, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099, and the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund, Fund 7702, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer said funds to the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702, at such time as is deemed necessary by the City Auditor, and to expend said funds, or so much thereof as may be necessary.
SECTION 9. That upon obtaining other funds from the 2024-2025 Bond Sale for the City of Columbus, the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to repay the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099 the amount transferred under Section 7.
SECTION 10. That the City intends that this ordinance constitutes an "official intent" for purposes of Section 1.150 2(e) of the Treasury Regulations, and that the City reasonably expects to reimburse itself for certain Original Expenditures incurred with respect to the Project from the proceeds of obligations to be issued by the City in a principal amount currently estimated to be $389,745.89 (the "Obligations"). The City intends to make a reimbursement allocation on its books for the Original Expenditures not later than eighteen months following the later to occur of the date of the Original Expenditure to be reimbursed or the date the Project for which such Original Expenditures were made is "placed in service" within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.150 2(c). Upon the issuance of the Obligations, the proceeds of such Obligations shall be used to reimburse the fund from which the advance for costs of the Project will be made.
SECTION 11. 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 7747 / P510044-100000 / Parkland Dedication - Eastland Brice (Carryover) / $33,345 / $33,345 / ($33,345) / $0 / $0
Fund 7747 / P512053-100000 / Mason Run Park Development (Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $33,345 / $33,345 / $33,345
SECTION 12. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $423,090.00, 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 and Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 13. 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.