Agenda - 05-20-2003-9c - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 The draft master plan was presented to the Little River Park Advisory Committee on May 14. Comments from that committee, along with preliminary comments from the Planning Department, will be shared with the BOCC on May 20. Funding for the park design comes from a grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), awarded to Orange and Durham counties for developing the Little River Regional Park. The LWCF grant (originally $262,000) is due to expire on September 30, 2003. Staff intends to request an extension once the master plan is approved and both counties sign an interlocal agreement. The interlocal agreement will specify a 50-50 cost- share arrangement between the two counties. These steps, plus a contract for park construction, should enable the LWCF guidelines to be met. Note: In order to obligate the funds in this manner, both boards will need to approve the master plan and inter-local agreement prior to July 1. Following master plan approval by both the Orange and Durham county boards, a site plan will be submitted for approval and the design contractor will prepare construction drawings, which will be used to solicit bids for park construction. Construction is expected to begin in late Fall 2003, and the Little River Regional Park should be open to the public by March 2004. The Orange County Recreation and Parks Department will operate and maintain the park consistent with an interlocal agreement (unsigned) between Orange and Durham counties. Construction cost estimates were received from the consultant on Wednesday, May 14. The consultant's initial estimate of $812,000 has been adjusted twice, once by the consultant (to $712,000) and once by Durham and Orange staff to yield a $599,939 project. The financial impact section below contains scenarios for funding which the Board may wish to discuss. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The full master plan, as designed by the consultant, is projected to cost $712,232. Orange and Durham staffs have deleted some items from the consultant's estimate, and revised the estimate to move some facilities (approximately $45,000) into a second phase - leaving a cost estimate of $599,939. Construction Cost Estimates Consultant Estimate - 5/14/03 ' $821,942 Consultant Revised Estimate - 5/14/03 $712,232 Staffs Refined Estimate - 5/15/03 $599.,939 An additional $85,000 for a turn lane from Guess Road will be funded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Additional facilities that have been designed in the Master Plan (beyond those envisioned in the LWCF grant application) include a park entrance turn lane, a'/-mile loop walking trail (ADA accessible), caretaker residence, park office and maintenance shed. Some of these additional facilities will be funded from outside sources (including the aforementioned turn lane). Construction of the'/-mile loop walking trail is expected to be paid for from a $50,000 grant from the state Recreational Trails Program.