Rockford approves bids for Riverside Park Shelter construction

by Megan Hopps

SUN PRESS Newspapers

The city of Rockford met with architect Steven Binnech to review the plans for the new shelter to be built at Riverside Park.

Binnech presented the final design of the project to the council with alternate line items that may be pulled from the project if necessary due to budget restrictions. The council expressed interest in installing heating and cooling capabilities, but City Administrator Dan Madsen cautioned against it for cost reasons. He added, however, that potentially adding heating and cooling units could serve as an opportunity for community groups to organize a fundraiser to assist with purchasing the needed equipment and in return would earn naming rights to the new facility.

Riverside Park Shelter

Last fall the city demolished the old park shelter at Riverside Park and began formulating plans to make improvements at the site. Binnech was hired by the city in December 2014 to design the new park shelter.

Weve worked through various challenges with flood plain designations, sought comment and review from the DNR, FIMA and cleared with the league that this building could be covered under insurance, Madsen said. Weve worked with the planning and zoning team and city planner to figure out what we need to do to have a building this size located on the flood fringe. After a lot of revisions and design changes, Mr. Binnech has a final design plan to review with us tonight.

Rockfords Park Board reviewed and approved the plan before it came before the council.

Their two requests were to, at some point, add heating and cooling to this building with installation of an HVAC or some sort of climate environment control, and also to try to construct the entire shelter and not do it piece by piece in two or three steps, Madsen said.

Madsen added that if the plan is approved by the council, the project would open for bids April 9, with construction to tentatively begin April 20.

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Rockford approves bids for Riverside Park Shelter construction