Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to modify an existing contract with Arcadis U.S., Inc. to provide professional design services associated with the Big Walnut Trail, Little Turtle to Cherrybottom Park. Alum Creek Trail Project. The modification amount being authorized by this ordinance is $1,800,972.12.
Ordinance 0654-2022 authorized the Director of Recreation and Park to enter into contract with Arcadis U.S., Inc. to do a preliminary alignment study to extend the Big Walnut Trail from Little Turtle to Sunbury Road. The study included public involvement, analysis of potential trail corridors, and preliminary cost estimating. It also coordinated key regional trail building agencies within the local area and a phase one inventory of environmental resources. The results produced a preferred alignment for the Recreation and Parks Department to advance into this intended Stage Two modification for detailed design. The contract modification for Stage Two was planned in 2022 so that engineering could continue once the preferred alignment was determined. Procurement of a separate consultant contract would cost the city additional funds, delays in the project schedule, and would not provide the Department with the cost estimating necessary to apply for grant funding. The project is scheduled to begin construction in the summer of 2025.
In June of 2021, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) approved federal grant funding for the Recreation and Parks Department towards the construction of this 2.5 mile section of trail. This connection will go from the Little Turtle neighborhood to Sunbury Road, Cherrybottom Park, and the Alum Creek Trail. As part of the grant funding, the Recreation and Parks Department is obligated to perform the design of the project.
The MORPC grant provides $5.6 million towards building this significant trail infrastructure for the city’s Northeast communities, inclu...
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