High bids delay plans to build events center, offices at Quarry Trails Metro Park

Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks planned to spend $1.58 million to build an events center at Quarry Trails Metro Park, but the lowest of two bids still came in too high, at $2.52 million.

So the Metro Parks board of commissioners on Tuesday held off voting on a contract for that project, as well as on a contract for an office building for parks staff and a maintenance garage there. Metro Parks had estimated the latter contract would cost $1.28 million, but the lowest of two bids was $1.53 million.

Executive Director Tim Moloney said bids need to be within 10% of the estimated cost to be considered. He said he didn't know why the bids came in so high since design professionals that Metro Parks contracted with had come up with the estimates.

However, Moloney said the cost of restrooms may have played a role in the high cost of the events center.

Quarry Trails: Projects need tweaks to fit Metro Parks' budget

Moloney said the two projects for which bids were over estimates are still likely to be done, but staff may have to talk to those design professionals and others to tweak ideas for both.

Quarry Trails "absolutely needs a park headquarters" and an events center at the northern end of the park, Moloney said.

Proposed plans called for a three-season events center that overlooks a lake for picnics and events such as weddings, reunions and family get-togethers. The building would be enclosed with restrooms but would not have air conditioning or heating, Moloney said.

Metro Parks officials are still deciding whether the center would be available through reservation or on a first-come, first-served basis, Maloney said. "Our reservable spaces are generally more isolated. This is in a more heavy activity area," he said.

The Mirolo Charitable Foundation is contributing $200,000 to the events center project. Toni Bloomfield, a spokeswoman for the foundation, said the Amelita Mirolo Barn at Sunny 95 Park in Upper Arlington has proven to be a big success, and she believes an events center at Quarry Trails would prove to be the same.

"Parks bring joy to communities and many opportunities. It's a good fit for us," Bloomfield said.

Blacklick Woods project canceled due to rising construction costs

Moloney said the goal has been to start construction as soon as possible and open the events center by 2023.

In May, Metro Parks staff decided not to build a $4.5 million nature center at Blacklick Woods Metro Park, citing skyrocketing construction costs.

In May, Moloney said that Metro Parks had dropped plans to build a $4.5 million nature center at Blacklick Woods Metro Park on the Far East Side, instead spending $2.1 million to build a canopy walk through the trees and a tower with an elevator to bring people up to the walk, and one of two observation decks.

Asked about the decision to cancel the new nature center at Blacklick Woods while spending the money on an events center at Quarry Trails, Moloney said that Metro Parks officials decided to go in a different direction at Blacklick Woods because of the rising costs.

Attendance at Quarry Trails this year through July has been 259,550, while the attendance at Blacklick Woods during the same period has been 543,010.

As for other features at Quarry Trails, Moloney said the rock climbing and rappelling area at the park should be ready by late autumn. Climbers will clip in and move horizontally across the cliff face, which is about a half-mile wide and 160 feet tall.

Via Ferrata Works, of Colorado, and Burgess & Niple, a Columbus-based engineering company, were awarded a $250,000 contract earlier this year for the work.

Moloney said a planned sledding hill should be ready by this winter.

mferench@dispatch.com

@MarkFerenchik

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: High bids delay plans for Quarry Trails Metro Park events center