The Regional District of Nanaimo has approved staff recommendation to increase the budget for the playground project at Errington Community Park.
The park, located in Electoral Area F (Coombs, Hilliers, Errington, Whiskey Creek, Meadowood), which currently provides a venue for the Errington Farmers’ market, is scheduled to undergo upgrades this year that includes installation of a new path network, various grading and drainage improvements, and construction of a playground area.
The construction cost was set at $530,820 and was included in the 2021 budget. Part of the funds had already been allocated to subsidizing engineering fees that amounted to $20,000 and $170,560 for the purchase of the playground equipment. That left a balance of $340,260.
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Request for proposals were issued earlier this year and three bidders were received. However, all the bids went over the allocated budget of $340,260. The lowest tender was from Milestone Equipment Contracting Inc., which offered to construct the playground for $340,792.87.
The provisional item pricing proposed by Milestone include parking lot improvements for $78,483.33, feature hill for $91,528.55, concrete paths for $36,869.25 and a playground play pump for $11,868.66.
Due to budget constraints, RDN staff altered the plans and suggested dropping the parking lot improvements, feature hill and concrete paths, and just keep the playground play pump which the community wanted for the park. But it still left the project with a shortfall of $63,521, which required the set budget to be increased.
The RDN board at its regular meeting on Oct. 12, endorsed the staff request to amend the budget by allocating additional Community Funds from Electoral Area F.