Ridgeland Common Refit on Park Board Agenda

Renovations at could take a big step forward this week as the Park District assesses whether to begin preparing bids for the massive project.

Commissioners will examine design plans and decide whether to move forward with creating bid documents for prospective contractors.Those plans will be drawn up by a team from Nagle Hartray Architecture.

Costs also will be examined during the special park board meeting called for 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Administrative Offices, 218 Madison St.

Commissioners in approved renovating the facility at 415 Lake St. instead of tearing down and rebuilding. Plans included:

• Making the building one-story.
• The interior will be configured to be more user-friendly.
• Two activity rooms will be added.
• A conference room will be available for staff and public meetings.
• Most of the pool mechanicals will be replaced.
• A children's "water feature" will be added.
• The ice rink will be expanded to 200-by-85 feet from 185-by-85 feet.
• The ice sheet would be three feet below grade — the result will look like it’s been built into the site.
• The area will be enclosed by glass.

To see a concept drawing, click here.

The project is estimated to cost $23.7 million. A park district spokesman said costs that came in from Nagle Hartray were within budget.

Bids are expected to go out in January. Construction could begin in March. The entire project is slated to be ready by fall 2014, a park district spokesman said.