Phase one of the Hemlock Park Project is expected to begin this Summer following the Big Rapids City Commission approval of a resolution to hire Fleis and VandenBrink Construction earlier this week. 

 

The Hemlock Park improvement proposal from F&V Construction include:

• Sitework, including soil erosion and sedimentation control, removals, site preparation and site restoration.
• Four pickleball courts including a 60-ft x 120-ft concrete slab and color surfacing, fencing, posts and netting.
• Basketball courts including a 90-ft x 100-ft concrete slab and color surfacing, posts and equipment.
• Two tennis courts including a 108-ft x 120-ft concrete slab and color surfacing, fencing, posts and netting.
• Kayak launch complete with concrete walk, floating dock and support system.

 

According to City Manager Mark Gifford, the Splash Pad is scheduled for 2023. 

 

In a position paper to the City Commission and staff, Tresurer Aaron Kuhn outlined several funding options for the city. 

 

Option one would include the additional courts, splash pad and Placescape at an estimated cost of $2,679,252 between the three phases. Funding sources would include the amount fund raised, a DNR grant for the splash pad, existing appropriations of $150,000, and using roughly $189,000 of stimulus funding while financing $1,500,000. 

 

Option two would include the lesser number of courts, splash pad, in no replacement of playscape, at an estimated cost of $1,653,965. This would include all the same funding sources as option one but would use additional stimulus funding (61%) to avoid financing.

 

Option three would include the additional courts, splash pad, and no replacement of playscape, and an estimated cost of $2,079,252. This would include the same funding sources as options one and two but would use all the stimulus funding to avoid financing. 

 

Kuhn added staff has solicited financing rates from various local banks. Rates range depending on the term and structuring of the debt from 2.3% to 2.9%. With the option listed above that employees financing to supplement the project, payments would be $170,062 annually over a 10-year period. This would equate roughly to 1 mil of taxable value. 

 

During the City Commission meeting both city manager Mark Gifford and Treasurer Aaron Kuhn recommended the city should move forward with option one with the caveat that a millage levy be adopted with next budget cycle as an offsetting revenue source for the debt.