Electric City park plan changes could save $180,000

Plans for a proposed "Ice Age Park," behind the fire department building in Electric City, have a few changes that would save $180,000, and the city has hired a different landscape architect.

It happened last Tuesday night as the city council looked at and approved changes to the proposed park, and agreed to contract with SPVV Landscape Architects, of Spokane, for professional services that will take the city through its grant application process.

The city relieved Robert Doll, landscape architect from Lacey, from continuing as lead park advisor and designer. Trouble started for Doll several months ago after cost estimates were off substantially.

City Clerk Russell Powers will present the city's application and plan for the Ice Age Park on May 24 in Olympia before Washington State Recreation Conservation Office officials, and then will return in August for a final presentation.

The new landscape architects had made some changes to the Ice Age Park, and the changes reduced the estimated cost from $731,000 to $543,000.

The change in the park plan was approved by the city's park advisory board and sent to the council last week for approval, and received it.

The advisory board also recommended to the council that the speed limit between Electric City and Grand Coulee be changed from 45 mph to 35 mph. The Washington State Department of Transportation didn't look favorably on this idea.

The changes to the Ice Age Park on McNett Street essentially provide two climbing areas for kids, one made up of logs and the second of rocks. A paved pathway through the park was cut back.

Kids will be able to climb through and around manufactured and moulded logs and likewise on a number of manufactured rocks. Some natural, granite rocks might also be added.

A system of earthen mounds is planned to help carry through with the Ice Age theme.

Several interpretive signs will be sprinkled through the park area, providing the legend theme.

The changes allowed for substantial costs reductions.

Grants from the RCO will be awarded next summer. If Electric City is successful in receiving one, construction of the park would primarily take place in 2020, Powers said.