September 10, 2024 |
Photo – Location of Never Forget Park – By Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
Signs of progress are being made on Saratoga’s Never Forget Park.
For the past 16 years, the town of Saratoga has pursued various plans to build a park to honor a fallen combat solider from the town, Staff Sergeant Tyler Pickett, and all those who serve to protect American lives. However, due to numerous delays and multiple reductions in the project’s scope, work on the property at the corner of Pic Pike Road and East River Street has only just begun.
Earlier this year, the town of Saratoga was finally ready to request contractor bids to begin phase one of Never Forget Park: installing curbs, gutters, and sidewalks. Unfortunately, the lowest bid at $375,000 was roughly $100,000 more than the town was prepared to spend. The governing body voted to reject the bids and wait an unspecified amount of time before requesting a new round of contractor bids.
At the September 3rd Saratoga town council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner said work was underway installing water and power lines to the property. Penner said Eagle Eye Construction of Greeley, Colorado has agreed to install concrete curbs and gutters at the park for a reasonable fee.
Eagle Eye Construction quoted the town $46,481 to install curbs, gutters, and a valley pan for drainage at Never Forget Park. Penner informed the council that for an additional $16,156, the contractor will pour a concrete approach into the parking lot.
Mayor Chuck Davis asked Penner if the additional work is necessary at this time. The public works director recommended installing the concrete approach at a later date.
The Saratoga town council unanimously voted to approve Eagle Eye Construction’s $46,481 bid to install curbs and gutters at Never Forget Park. In the meantime, public works crews will continue to prepare the property for the next phase of construction: lights and public restrooms.
