A 5-0 San Diego County Board of Supervisors vote September 26 approved the advertisement for bid and subsequent award of a construction contract for Phase II of the Mountain Empire Community Center playground while also transferring $128,757 of general fund appropriations into the project.
"This is really good news for the community of Campo," Jacob said. "It means we will finally complete the community center and playground."
A 5-0 San Diego County Board of Supervisors vote September 26 approved the advertisement for bid and subsequent award of a construction contract for Phase II of the Mountain Empire Community Center playground while also transferring $128,757 of general fund appropriations into the project.
"This is really good news for the community of Campo," Jacob said. "It means we will finally complete the community center and playground."
The county's Department of Parks and Recreation divided the construction of the playground into two phases. Phase I included
a junior playground, a tot lot playground, walkways, a drinking fountain, irrigation, landscaping, and a parking stall which met Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Phase I, which had a $450,000 budget, was completed in 2010.
The Phase I funding included $107,00 of 2009-10 Community Development Block Grant revenue. On March 27 the county supervisors approved the 2012-13 CDBG program including $124,572 for the Mountain Empire Community Center playground. The county's Department of Housing and Development is responsible for CDBG funding, and appropriations for all projects included five percent for HCD oversight, so the county thus had $118,640 of CDBG funds available for the Phase II construction contract.
The county and the Campo-Lake Moreno Community Planning Group worked to revise Phase II in order to complete the project with available funding. The planning group unanimously supported the revised concept plan on July 23. Phase II will now include a shaded picnic pavilion, benches, barbecues, construction of a paved maintenance access road which will connect the park to the existing ball fields, walkways, a split rail fence, landscaping, and irrigation. The September 26 appropriations bring the total budgeted amount to $247,397. The construction contract amount, including contingencies, is estimated at $200,000 while the remaining $47,397 will be used for related costs such as inspection services, construction management, and project administration.
The county currently has a lease agreement with Mountain Health and Community Services, Inc., to operate and maintain the community center and the park. A new lease agreement will be required before construction on Phase II can begin, as Mountain Health and Community Services will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the new facilities. Construction is expected to begin in January 2013 and be complete in Summer 2013.
