City opens bids for upcoming splash pad project at Forest Park

The City of Brazil received an artist's rendering of the upcoming splash pad at Forest Park.

Photo submitted

A much anticipated splash pad set to be installed at Forest Park should be constructed and ready for use by youngsters and their families by the end of the 2023 summer season, officials said Wednesday during a Board of Public Works & Safety meeting.

Members of the board opened three bids from various construction companies Wednesday, ranging from $658,000 to $965,000. The bids will be taken under advisement and will be returned with a recommendation by the time the board meets again March 8.

Bids were received from Peterson Company, LLC ($658,000) out of Indianapolis, MSI Construction ($781,900) from Clinton, and Trissler Construction Company ($965,000) of Indianapolis.

The splash pad has been in the works for some time. On Wednesday, Mayor Brian Wyndham thanked the companies for their bids, saying the process from beginning to end can now officially commence.

“The date will be determined a little later as far as construction start up, but I feel safe in saying we ought to have something this year,” Wyndham said.

Kristy Jerrell, the grant writer hired by the city for the project, agreed with the mayor.

“Oh yeah. It will be completed this year. We have a four-to-six month range for the splash pad,” she said.

In May of 2021, the city applied for a federally funded, 50/50 matching grant through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Land & Water Conservation Fund.

All funds considered, the city has a $663,294 budget for the splash pad.

“We got more in grants for some non-construction, but just the construction part of the grant was $663,294,” Jerrell said.

Wyndham added that the setup of the splash pad will be more conducive to families as they visit Forest Park.

“It’ll be a north-to-south configuration, so the sun won’t be in your eyes. I think the Park Board has done a good job of putting it in a good location, because it’ll be closer to the walking track where people can kind of watch their kids, and use the track for exercise,” he said.

The splash pad is set to be constructed over the existing basketball court next to the Forest Park Pool. It will utilize 5,600-square feet in total, and will be divided between three zones — dynamic, family and “tot.”

Board member Ruthann Jeffries raised questions about the existing, heavily used basketball court, saying, “I think they’ll be concerned if they think the splash pad is going where the basketball goal is going, but that’s not the case.”

The basketball court is set to be moved to a new location — just south of the park’s Comfort Station, Wyndham said.

“I imagine we’ll be done with that before the pad. It’ll be the spring when get can get the asphalt in,” Planning and Zoning Administrator Janet McClellan added. “We’re going to do what we have to do with the basketball court. That’s crucial. We’ll get it done.”

A source of funding for the basketball court’s relocation is yet to be determined. Members noted that the Brazil City Council will determine that at a later date.