The Arkansas City Commission has approved a $650,000 construction contract for improvements to the Wilson Park playground, with the project expected to be completed next spring.
Commissioners awarded the contract to Athco Acquisition Corp. during their Oct. 20 meeting after reviewing two bids submitted for the project.
Athco submitted the lowest responsive bid at $650,000, while Playscape Recreation submitted a bid of $700,000.
Following a review of the proposals, LK Architecture recommended awarding the contract to Athco.
The playground improvements will be funded through a combination of grant money, city resources and community contributions.
The largest portion of funding comes from a $628,728 Community Development Block Grant. Additional funding includes $50,000 from the V.J. Wilkins Foundation, $87,572 in city capital improvement funds and $19,610 in city in-kind contributions.
The original project budget totals approximately $785,910. City officials said the project is expected to remain within budget when construction, design, inspection and grant administration expenses are included.
Commissioners also approved a change order to add decorative features and recognize organizations and individuals contributing to the project.
The changes include a $6,000 savings from selecting an alternative fencing manufacturer that meets project quality requirements.
Those savings will offset the $6,000 cost of adding graphics to a water tower-inspired playground feature.
An additional $4,615 will be spent on permanent signage recognizing the V.J. Wilkins Foundation and other project supporters.
The changes result in a net increase of $4,615 to the overall project cost.
Construction is expected to be completed by March 30, 2027, with the playground scheduled to open to the public in spring 2027, provided work remains on schedule.
