Negotiations Could Keep New Park on Track

Town officials are working with Raleigh construction company Clancy & Theys to keep plans for the new East Clayton Community Park on track.

The firm was the lowest of six bidders on the project last month, but their $2.8 million figure was still way more than budgeted for the Park's First Phase development.

"We are negotiating to see if the cost can be reduced and to determine whether some elements may need to be deferred," said Town Manager Steve Biggs.

If negotiations are successful, work may begin this year as hoped on a the new 60-acre park on Glen Laurel Road in East Clayton. If not, project plans may need to be adjusted to bring the cost down while town officials seek new construction bids.

The new park, expected to greatly increase the town's recreational opportunities, will be built in two phases. The first phase of construction presently includes:

• A regulation-size soccer field that may have synthetic turf instead of natural grass if costs permit. By installing synthetic turf, the field will be able to handle a large amount of use, much more than a grass field would allow. Play could begin there earlier, too, since installing turf is quicker than getting a grass field into playing condition.

• A regulation-size baseball field

• Two large open-use spaces

• A mile-long walking trail around the park

• A youth playground

• Two picnic pavilions

• Preservation of woodland and wetland areas

Construction is expected to take at least a year, with the grass fields needing additional time for the turf to get established.

The first phase of construction is being financed with a $1.8 million share of the $4 million bond issue for parks approved by voters in a referendum two years ago. A $475,000 County grant is also available for the park.

The second phase of construction, which has not yet been funded, will include additional trail areas, a disc golf course and possibly a challenge course.