The G.I. Council postponed making a decision about improvements to the Ryder Park baseball field until Oct. 14, which is after the city’s budget is approved, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Grand Island’s City Council discussed improvements to the Ryder Park baseball field but postponed making any decision until Oct. 14, which is after the city budget is approved.
The City Council voted 10-0 to delay until Oct. 14 making a decision on the project.
Parks and Recreation Department Director Todd McCoy wrote in a memo to City Council that a group of American Legion Baseball Program and local baseball enthusiasts were working to raise funds for the project. The original projected private funding was projected at $1.7 million.
In September 2024 the city hired Olsson Associates to provide engineering services for the project for $445,000.
On May 2, the Parks and Recreation Department advertised for construction bids for the project. The lowest bid exceeded the estimate for the project, so a decision was made to reduce the number of items included in the project. On June 20, the Parks and Recreation Department rebid the field renovation project. The revised project included a new synthetic turn field, dugouts, lights, batting cages, and stadium improvements. Restrooms, a concession stand and softball field improvements were not included. It was mentioned that future fundraising could target raising money for the restrooms and concession stand.
Nemaha Sports Construction of Lincoln submitted the lowest bid and is recommended for the project. The base bid and an alternate bid total $3,745,600. Private donations currently held at the Grand Island Area Community Foundation total $182,662.
The total bid of $3,745,600 and current donations of $182,662 will reduce city funding to $3,562,938. This exceeds the original anticipated Food and Beverage Tax funding by $62,938.
