Projects update: Price Fields Phase 3 work nears completion

September 22, 2020

Veteran’s Park playground, Pathfinder projects underway

Phase 3 of the multi-phased Price Fields Sports Complex Renovation Project is set to wrap up next month while work continues on several other voter approved projects around the city. Projects coming up or currently underway include the Downtown Central Business District Paving Rehabilitation, the Eastland Pathfinder Extension Project and the Cudahy concrete panel replacement project between Santa Fe and Virginia Avenue.

Work on Phase 3 of the Price Fields renovation project is set to wrap up next month.

Price Fields Phase 3:

New fields ready for spring season

Work on Phase 3 of the Price Fields Sports Complex Renovation Project at the softball/baseball fields located on Tuxedo Boulevard just west of Silver Lake Road is nearing completion as contract crews move from topsoil application to fence and backstop work, Director of Engineering Micah Siemers said this week.

“Price Fields is coming along and we are targeting completion by the end of October,” Siemers said. “Electrical and plumbing work is ongoing on the two new concessions/restroom buildings, and (contractors) are laying block on the field equipment storage buildings. They are trying to wrap up the topsoil application and beginning to work on fence/backstops.”

The project, recommended in the 2009 Park and Recreation Development Plan, is a multi-phase project that includes the construction of new baseball and softball fields, concessions, restroom and storage facilities, roads and parking lots at the complex.

To date, voters have approved $8.8 million for the improvements, with $3.6 million allocated for Phase 3 of the project through the 2018 General Obligation Bond. This phase of the project includes replacing the four main fields in the central portion of the complex as well as constructing additional parking, restrooms and concession facilities. The first two phases saw the construction of new softball fields in the northeast area of the complex and baseball fields in the northwest section in addition to new parking. Additional phases, should funding be approved in the future, could include street alignment, improved access into and out of the complex, emergency access to the complex, reconstruction of the larger fields on the south end of the complex, additional parking, batting cages and additional storage.

Siemers said the fields will be ready for the spring season.

New path has been constructed south of Eastland Shopping Center.

Eastland Pathfinder Extension

New path installed east of US-75

Work continues on the Eastland Pathfinder Extension Project. The project includes re-routing and construction of a new Pathfinder trail east of Eastland Shopping Center to Brookline Drive as well as installing a new trail head west of U.S. Highway 75 across from the shopping center.

The revisions were necessary due to increased traffic in the Eastland Center parking lot with the construction of Chick-Fil-A and re-locations of Hobby Lobby and Big Lots in recent years.

Siemers said Monday the extension project is approximately 60 percent complete.

“The contractor has completed the parking lot and trail between Highway 75 and Brookline Drive,” he said. “They still need to stripe the parking lot and paint bollards, but other than that the west half of the project is complete.”

He said contract crews started work Monday on the portion of the trail that will run along the north

side of Brookline Drive.

“They will continue to work from west to east until they reach the current termination of the trail at Frank Phillips Boulevard in the (former) Will Rogers school parking lot just east of Turkey Creek. This portion of the project will include construction of five-foot wide concrete sidewalk rather than the asphalt trail that was built on the west half of the project. We are targeting completion of the project by the end of November.”

Downtown Central Business District Paving Rehabilitation

Voter approved street project still on target to conclude by end of year

Work on the Downtown Central Business District Paving Rehabilitation project continues with the south side of the project area complete and contract crews ready to move north, Project Engineer Emily Taber said this week.

The $2 million project, approved by voters in the 2018 General Obligation Bond Election, consists of an asphalt mill and overlay of all streets between Cherokee Avenue and Jennings Avenue and between Adams Boulevard and Hensley Boulevard, re-striping and adding shared bike lane striping and bicycle signage in several areas as well as landscaping improvements along Frank Phillips Boulevard between Keeler Avenue and Comanche Street.

“Construction crews have finished laying asphalt on the south side of downtown and are currently completing the permanent striping on Fourth Street, Fifth Street, Sixth Street, Dewey and Osage,” Taber said. “Once finished, construction will move to the north side of downtown to rehabilitate the asphalt on Second Street and the landscaping on Frank Phillips Boulevard.”

Taber said construction remains on schedule to finish by the end of the year.

Work is underway on the Veterans Park Playground at Frank Phillips and Virginia Avenue.

Veterans Park Playground

New playground to open next month

Construction got underway this week on the Veterans Park Playground, Civil Project Engineer Shelley Charles said Monday.

Located east of the Frontier Pool parking lot near the picnic shelter and basketball court, the playground is the City’s 2019 Community Development Block Grant Project. Funding is provided in part by the CDGB grant and voter approved 2018 G.O. Bond funds.

“The playground consists of a fighter jet playground structure, contrabass chimes and bongo drums,” Charles said.

The project should be completed in approximately one month, contingent upon weather.

Cudahy concrete rehab

Construction to start October 5
A concrete panel rehabilitation is planned for Cudahy between Virginia Avenue and Santa Fe.

Cudahy Street between Virginia Avenue and Santa Fe Avenue will soon undergo a full-depth concrete rehabilitation, with construction on the voter approved project set to begin in early October, Project Engineer Emily Taber said this week.

The project also includes the installation of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) ramps, curb and gutter construction and alleyway approaches.

“Throughout construction, traffic-control measures will ensure the maintenance of one-way traffic and homeowners will be given notice of any driveway interferences,” Taber said.

The project is funded by the 2018 G.O. Bond and has a budget of $503,831. Construction will begin on Oct. 5 and is expected to last three to four months.