Despite not liking the price tag, the Franklin Town Council approved a bid for work at the new Sunnyside Park.
Construction of the new inclusive playground continues at the park, located on what was formerly called the Whitmire property off First Street. As part of this phase of the park, the town also will build restrooms, sidewalks and parking.
The town received four bids, with the low bid of $839,472.15 being from Black and Alm Construction of Hendersonville.
Town Manager Amie Owens presented four options: 1) approve and appropriate funds, 2) approve the vendor and try to negotiate reduced costs, 3) reject all proposals and develop a different scope for the project, or 4) other recommendations from the council.
“I don’t think you’re going to get much lower based on the bids that we got,” Owens said. Two of the four bids were over $1 million.
“I had no idea it would be this much money,” said Council member Rita Salain.
Mayor Horton said, “If you’re going to have a playground, if you’re going to have a skatepark and you’re going to have people there, you’re going to have to have some restrooms.”
The skatepark is already on site and portable toilets have been used since it opened in 2023. As part of the project, the existing parking area near the skatepark will be improved. There will be about 20 parking spaces with three handicap spaces.
Owens said they have applied for a $300,000 grant to be used to pave a larger parking area if there is a need for more parking.
“We think it will be necessary, but we’ve got a beautiful play area up there right now. We want to get it open. We want to make sure there is access to it,” Owens said.
The pathway to the play area will be built with a grade of less than 2% to be ADA compliant. The restroom building will include two family restrooms (male and female) with three stalls and a handicapped stall on each side.
The town received a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant that will be applied to the construction cost. Owens said after the grant reimbursement the total cost will be $1,539.472.15, with $1.2 million of that being the playground.
Owens said the town is providing as much of the work as it can to reduce costs. The Public Works and Street Department did the grading and maintenance. The town also will supply the necessary pipe to connect to the water/sewer system.
Vice Mayor Stacy Guffey reminded the board that when the Greenway was being built the cost estimates kept increasing, but it’s now a place people have used for 23 years. “Divide the expenditure by 23 years and I think it’s worth it.”
Owens said when the original park plan was presented, it was estimated to cost $4.7 million over two phases but instead it will be spread over three phases.
“Over time, it’s going to even itself out,” she said. “We’re going to keep costs as low as we can. We’re going to do the best that we can. The Town Council made a promise to the community.”
She said Phase Two would include the multi-purpose pavilion and additional restrooms.
The bid was unanimously approved. (Mike Lewis was not present and was given an excused absence.)
The next Town Council meeting will be Monday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. The new mayor and council members will be sworn in. The town offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27 and 28 for Thanksgiving.