The Northeast Park Master Plan, developed through a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) process and approved by the MPRB in January 2014, identified a series of phased improvements for the park. Two initial phases included field/trail improvements and a new recreation building. As design progressed for the field improvements and the recreation building, additional project costs were encountered, specifically, contaminated soils at the softball fields and overall increased material and labor costs. The current budgets for Northeast Park projects do not cover these additional costs.
With the construction estimate for the new Northeast Park Recreation Building exceeding the current funding, and knowing that the CAC identified the building in the initial phase of park improvements, MPRB staff is recommending $400k in Capital Levy funding currently allocated to fields be re-allocated toward the new building. Originally the MPRB set aside Capital Levy and Net Debt Bond funding for the softball fields west of Fillmore Street and other field/pathway improvements east of Fillmore. Re-allocation of a portion of this funding to the building means that the two new softball fields scheduled to begin construction this fall will be placed on hold until additional funding can be secured. The remaining funding available for field improvements will be put towards improvements identified by the CAC that support park activities on the east side of Fillmore Street, such as connective paths, sidewalks, and renovating the existing bathroom building. The increased budget for the recreation building will allow MPRB to move forward with the concept approved by the CAC and the Board of Commissioners in February, 2015.