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A preliminary design of the Swithyard Park. Photo: City of Bloomington.

Commission Approves $34 Million for Switchyard Park

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The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission approved spending $34 million to construct Switchyard Park, yesterday.

The Commission approved over $25 million worth of ‘additional features,’ that go beyond the original park plan, including a skate park, limestone concert seating, and a 90-space overflow parking lot off of Rogers Street. Parks Operations Director Dave Williams said some elements have been pulled out of the construction contract because the city can handle them for less money. Those include furnishing the park’s police substation, and elements of surveillance and security, which will be handled by the city’s IT department.

The city decided early on early to bid the park as a single construction project. The Commission approved contracting with Weddle Brothers Construction, one of only two bidders on the project. According to Williams, the contractor is obligated to complete the project in May of 2020, but the park could be usable before then.

Controller Jeff Underwood said the project was originally estimated to cost $35 million. The $34 million budget approved yesterday includes roughly $2.7 million in contingency funds, which Underwood said may or may not be needed.

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