Four Plant City parks have been undergoing simultaneous makeovers, and Interim City Manager Dave Sollenberger hopes to wrap up plans for these projects before he passes his responsibilities onto new city manager Mike Herr at the end of September.
“It’s just kind of a convergence of several things coming together at the same time, kind of getting all the cherries lined up on the slot machine,” Sollenberger said. “There was no special plan to make that happen.”
The commission approved Sept. 8, one resolution regarding lighting at Ellis-Methvin Park and another regarding construction at Snowden Park. Sollenberger also reported updates for progress at Brewer Park.
The installation of walkway lights at Brewer Park had been delayed because the first vendor provided lights that were the wrong size. Now that the city has obtained the correct lights, Sollenberger expects the installation to be complete by Friday, Sept. 19.
The central fountain at the Midtown Village Green is also expected to be put in place any day now.
Ellis-Methvin Park
The city has authorized the purchase of lighting for the walkway and parking areas at Ellis-Methvin Park. These wirelessly controlled luminaries will be purchased for $105,307, which does not include the cost of installation.
Staff proposes the use of Hubbell Incorporated LED fixtures. These will be installed in the existing north and south parking lots, as well as the new lot under construction with the soccer fields. Trail lighting will be installed along the sidewalk adjacent to the pond.
This resolution does not address overhead pole lights that will eventually be installed on the soccer fields.
Other projects at Ellis-Methvin Park include: a retaining wall (currently under contract); wheel stops for the parking areas; a pad for the concrete bleachers (both have been purchased, but not yet installed); a perimeter security fence; and a stormwater drainage station.
There also will be an asphalt driveway leading to grass parking areas, and for added safety, swing gates that close at night.
A two-story building will also be constructed at the park, containing a concession stand, coaches’ meeting room and restroom. The designs for this building are in progress, but Sollenberger does not have a cost estimate yet.
“I’m looking forward to getting that done as soon as possible. I do want to be able to be in a position to go back to City Commission at the next meeting and tell them what we’ve got scheduled for expenditure … and whether we’ve got the money to cover it or not,” Sollenberger said.
As for the completion of construction at Ellis-Methvin Park, Sollenberger is unsure. “It’s hard to answer that right. I think it’s going to be after the first of the year.”
Snowden Park
The commission authorized Sept. 8, a work order with QGS Development, Inc., to deliver top soil to Snowden Park for $152,234.65. Funding is available from the County Community Development Grant.
In the early 1960s, the area that is now Snowden Park had been used as a neighborhood garbage dump. When the city began plans for park improvements a few years ago and Environmental Protection Commission staff assessed the park, they found leftover debris from the garbage dump in the soil.
“It was broken glass debris. It was so old, it had worn down to little marble-like pieces,” said Karen Collins from the Plant City Community Services Department. “There have been no tests that show there were any kind of gases or anything like that coming from the park. … No contaminants are in there.”
The EPC ordered an excavation to remove the remaining debris. The city has already started this excavation, and Collins expects it to be done in October. Soil containing debris will be removed or spread out around the park and covered with clean top soil.
The city has contracted QGS Development Inc., to provide 12,000 cubic yards of top soil, creating a 2-foot-deep layer.
Collins expects Snowden Park’s new playground and recreational areas to be open in December.
In Other News
• The commission voted unanimously against the ordinance to do away with the Perpetual Care Fund. Commissioners have decided to wait until Mike Herr begins as city manager to come up with a different solution regarding cemetery maintenance.
• A lease agreement has been finalized between the city and the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum Society, Inc., formalizing the arrangement for the museum to be housed on city-owned property and display city-owned artifacts.
• The Department of Economic Opportunity granted $20,000 to Plant City for the I-4 Green Tech Corridor Overlay, a project that aims to increase high-quality employment opportunities along the interstate. The funds will help develop the zoning district and land development regulations for the I-4 Green Tech Corridor Overlay.
Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.
