Construction to begin at Riley Park Pool

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GREENFIELD — Crews plan to break ground on the renovation of Riley Park Pool next month, the parks superintendent says.

The Greenfield Board of Parks and Recreation and the Greenfield Board of Public Works and Safety this week approved a $2.8 million construction bid for the pool project. Ellen Kuker, superintendent of the Greenfield Parks and Recreation Department, said she was “pleasantly surprised” with the low bids.

The lowest of three bids for the renovation of the 1980s-era pool, from J.C. Ripberger Construction Corp. of Zionsville, had a base cost of $2.71 million. That includes adding a new water slide, a zero-depth entry to one end of the pool and extensive changes to the clubhouse and locker rooms.

Officials have been advocating for upgrades to the pool for a more than a decade. Plans moved ahead for a major renovation in 2005-06, during the tenure of Mayor Rodney Fleming, but the mayor vetoed the project over concerns about the expense. That project, which envisioned a new water park, was expected to cost about $3.5 million.

Earlier this year, the Greenfield City Council approved a $3.3 million bond to cover the costs for the new project.

The parks board voted to also include a second 20-foot slide and deck expansion, costing a combined $164,300. In order to add the second slide to the project, Kuker said the board deducted $47,200 from the base cost by opting for an asphalt roof instead of a metal roof on the clubhouse.

In addition to the $2.8 million total construction price, Kuker said the remaining $500,000 in the bond will fund soft costs, such as legal and consulting fees. If there’s any money left over, Kuker said the parks department would spend it on cabanas and umbrellas, amenities that don’t fit in the initial budget.

“We’re hoping to really watch the budget, and be smart with our money, so that we can add in a few items that will really make this pretty nice,” Kuker said.

The parks department will have a groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation project in mid-November, Kuker said, prompting the start of construction. The “substantial completion” of the pool is slated for late April, Kuker said, and the project will fully be finished in the middle of May.

“So, if everything goes according to plan and Mother Nature cooperates, we should have our ribbon-cutting and be open to the community Memorial Day weekend, like we’ve done with the swimming pool for years,” she said.

The city followed a similar strategy for the new splash pad last year. It opened in time for the season last spring.