Published: May 14, 2008 07:22 am      

Architect says project 'moving along'

Things are “moving along” at Crystal Beach Park.

Architect Jim Hasenbeck provided members of the Woodward Parks and Beautification Board with this update during their monthly meeting Tuesday morning.

As the construction on phase one of the arena project continues, Hasenbeck noted that workers are in the process of completing the box seating areas and pouring concrete for the concession areas under the grandstands.

The contractor was even able to find a special machine with a 150-foot telescopic arm, which will allow the workers to simply pour the concrete where they need it under the grandstands, instead of having to use wheelbarrows to haul concrete back and forth, he said.

Besides the ongoing activity at the arena, Hasenbeck said “notice to proceed has been given to the contractor for the baseball fields.”

“Soon you’ll start seeing a convoy of trucks as they raise the level of the fields,” he said, noting that the objective is to have the fields raised to the proper level and sod in place and irrigated by July 31.

In addition, the aquatics center project will go to bid in the next couple of weeks, Hasenbeck said.

After that, he said the next two major projects will be renovating parking and landscaping areas and installing a new water line in the park.

But while progress is being made, Hasenbeck admitted that the project is a little behind schedule.

He also noted that rising construction prices may have an impact on the number of renovation projects that are completed at the park within the original $25 million budget, but he couldn’t say what the exact impact will be.

“Prices are higher,” he said. “But what that means for the overall project, who knows.”

However, Hasenbeck reminded the board that his team “intend(s) to build as much as we can at a quality level.”

“We have a commitment to doing quality stuff,” he said, noting that “we also have a commitment to do work in all four quadrants (park, sports, arena, golf course).”