Contract awarded for skatepark
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

Staff Reporter

The cost of a new skatepark for the north hill park in Bolton has turned out to be much more expensive than expected, but Caledon council is still going ahead with the project.

Council recently awarded the contract for construction of the new concrete skateboard facility to UCC Group for a reduced amount of $215,938, excluding GST. UCC Group had submitted the low bid of $255,778, but this bid was well above the $165,000 council had budgeted for this project.

The bid didn't include the supply of aggregate and concrete which will cost an additional $25,000. With a $15,000 contingency as well this brought the project's total cost to $295,778.

The community fund-raising group CCSK8 Park and the Mayor's Youth Council have collected about $10,000 in total donations bringing the total budget up to $175,000.

This meant there was a funding deficit of $120,778. Council approved taking an additional $80,788 from the parks development charges fund for the construction of the skatepark and it approved the reduction of $40,000 worth of items in the contract to make up for the funding shortage.

>From front page

Items deferred to a later date included $21,816 for benches, $5,346 for garbage cans, $5,280 for deciduous trees and $408 for shrubs. Changing from stainless steel handrails and copings to galvanized steel will save another $7,000.

Councillor David Lyons couldn't understand how the Town's consultant could recommend a budget that missed by 50 per cent the low bid for the project. He wanted to defer the project until the money was raised.

Councillor Annette Groves noted the CCSK8 Park group has held many fund-raising events, and businesses have been very supportive. She added CCSK8 Park is still trying to raise money. She supported going forward with the project because the need exists.