[Archived] Question # 19: Can you provide the cost breakdown of the individual components funded by the $13.5M budgeted in FY 2023 for the Athletic Field Improvements capital project?

Question:

Can you provide the cost breakdown of the individual components funded by the $13.5M budgeted in FY 2023 in the Athletic Field Improvements capital project. What are the cost estimates of the remaining components included in the Athletic Field Master Plan? Which improvements could be advanced in FY 2022 if funding were identified?  (Mayor Wilson)

Response:

The $13.5 million budgeted in Athletic Field Improvements in FY 2023 will fund implementation of the 2014 Citywide Parks Improvements Plan (Park Plan) outstanding recommendations for Eugene Simpson Stadium Park. The project’s design phase is in procurement using previous years’ funding. Additionally, funding identified for Simpson Park from previous years will be coupled with FY 2023 funding for the construction phase. While not broken out specifically by park features, the FY 2023 budgeted amount includes $6.9 million for the construction of outstanding Park Plan recommendations and improvements to the natural turf diamond athletic fields as follows:

• Natural turf renovation and drainage improvements at the large baseball field
• Natural turf renovation and drainage improvements at the small baseball field
• New dugouts at the small baseball field
• Upgrade the irrigation systems for the two diamond fields
• Connection pathway to E. Duncan Avenue (Recommendation #5)
• Use bollards to limit pathway driving access to maintenance vehicles (Recommendation #6)
• Plant perimeter trees to create a “Green Alley” (Recommendation #7)
• Improve maintenance route to soccer fields (Recommendation #10)
• Provide new bleachers with equipment storage underneath (Recommendation #11)
• Provide new bleachers with concessions booths underneath (Recommendation #12)
• Create picnic area near concessions (Recommendation #13)
• Expand parking lot, improving stormwater management (Recommendation #14)

The project budget also includes $6.6 million for design allowance, cost escalation and contingency. Cost escalation and contingency costs were determined in accordance with the internal Capital Projects Cost Estimating Memo (dated 9/11/2017), which details cost levels that shall be used during the conceptual cost estimating and budgeting stage, before any design is completed. Escalation and contingencies will be recalculated in the FY 2023 budget cycle to account for any schedule and/or market adjustments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2006, the City completed a community process to create an Athletic Fields Master Plan. The plan recommends improvements for all public athletic facilities in the community including City and Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) managed sites. The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA) anticipates providing a 10-Year implementation strategy to complete outstanding recommendations of the 2006 Athletic Fields Master Plan to the Park and Recreation Commission by the end of FY 2021. This implementation strategy will assist staff with the development of the FY 2023 – FY 2032 Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

“Table 2” below provides an overview of outstanding recommendations in the 2006 Athletic Fields Master Plan and their estimated costs. Where projects to address these recommendations are planned and budgeted for in the Proposed FY 2022 – FY 2031 CIP, the fiscal year is identified. While it is possible to advance funding for improvements and field renovations to FY 2022, most projects will require community engagement, design, and construction phases. An additional challenge to accelerating projects is that staff recommends balancing the number of fields offline in any given year to ensure the City’s field network can absorb displaced programs. “Table 1” on the subsequent page lists the anticipated field closures in the next 3.5 years per the Proposed FY 2022 – FY 2031 CIP. In addition, renovations and potential conversions of ACPS natural turf fields are contingent on ACPS timing and planning for modernization projects. 

If funding were made available in FY 2022, the following improvements could be advanced:

• Joseph Hensley Park Phase II Construction: Design of Phase I and Phase II are advancing through the design process as one package and the work is anticipated to be complete in calendar 2021. Construction procurement of Phase I will occur in FY 2022 and could be combined with all or part of Phase II, if funding were available. Phase II includes renovation of the upper diamond field with lighting, renovation of the rectangular field with lighting, parking, storage, multi-use court, batting cages, picnic pavilion, plantings, stormwater management, and maintenance yard. Funding for Phase II was not requested in the FY 2022-FY 2031 CIP because it is an off-cycle year. A funding request for this project is planned for the FY 2023-FY 2032 budget process. The total estimated cost of Phase II is $6,300,000.
• Armistead L Boothe Park Restroom Upgrades: The restrooms were updated in 2017 and preliminary design investigations were completed at that time regarding a conversion to four-season use. Conditioning the restroom is planned in FY 2028. This project could occur earlier if funding were available. The project could be timed to coincide with planned improvements to the adjacent field, currently planned for FY 2022. The estimated cost is $125,000.

Table 1: Anticipated Field Closures by Six Month Timeframe FY2022-FY2025

Table 2: 2006 Athletic Field Master Plan Outstanding Recommendations

City of Alexandria Field Sites

   *Costs are in 2021 dollars without escalation.

Alexandria City Public Schools Field Sites

 **Costs are in 2021 dollars without escalation. Also, a majority of ACPS Cost Estimates are “TBD” because specific improvements still need to be determined through the School Modernization Project design process in order to develop estimates.

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