Joan Park and Freedom Park Improvements Design RFP

ADVERTISEMENT - REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL - Professional Design Services - Joan Park and Freedom Park Improvements INTRODUCTION The City of Columbus (hereinafter "City") is accepting proposals for Joan Park and Freedom Park Improvements. The project will involve public engagement, park programming, master planning, schematic design, detailed design, and preparation of construction plans and specifications, permits, and bidding documents. Responding teams shall be capable of demonstrating excellence in public engagement, architecture, landscape architecture, civil engineering, and sustainable, cost-effective design and project delivery, along with other work as may be necessary to complete the contract, in accordance with specifications set forth in this Request for Proposal (RFP). It is the intent that construction would be bid in Fall of 2027. The Joan Park and Freedom Park Improvements Project creates the opportunity to improve the user experience at two existing Columbus neighborhood parks. The consultant team will be responsible for engaging stakeholders in two distinct communities, evaluating the fit of the existing park program and further developing the plans for recreation opportunities that encourage new uses, support healthy lifestyles, and build upon the best and most unique aspects of each park. Project Background - Joan Park - 1927 Myrtle Avenue 43211 Joan Park is a 4-acre neighborhood park in the Northeast Columbus community. Joan Park currently provides an access path and basketball court for the surrounding Mulbur Park and Mulbur Heights subdivisions. The park includes a stormwater detention basin installed by the City of Columbus Water & Power. The park has also seen recent investment. In 2021 a walking access path was constructed and in 2023 the basketball court was resurfaced Freedom Park - 5691 Westdale Park 43119 Freedom Park is an 8.33-acre neighborhood park located in the Westland Columbus community. Along with the playground and gazebo, the park has 4 unsheltered picnic tables, a 10-space asphalt parking lot, a 1,600 foot loop walking path, scattered trees and a multi-purpose field. The park is accessible from Norton Road via Westdale Park. A shared-use path along the west side of Norton Road connects the park to Hall Road commercial node to the north along with the Camp Chase Trail to the south. CRPD Project Goals Re-energize existing greenspaces to create vibrant, welcoming, multi-generational greenspaces that respond to local recreational needs and interests, support increased resident health and wellbeing and encourage appreciation of our natural environments. Incorporate input from the community, internal CRPD stakeholders and available demographic and trends analysis to develop an informed, complete and holistic plan for each park. Develop master plans that push the range and distribution of recreational opportunities available in Columbus' parks and provide a balanced response to the demands of organized sports and informal outdoor recreation and leisure use. Provide a design team that is responsive to the city's goals of equity, inclusion, and diversity. Establish programs that provide a strong consideration for long-lasting interest, public safety, long term maintenance, and stewardship of these sites. The City reserves the right to cancel this RFP and reject any bid or proposal, in whole or in part, for good cause when it is in the best interests of the City. WHERE & WHEN TO SUBMIT BID Proposals will be received by the City of Columbus, Department of Recreation & Parks, Design & Construction, at https://columbus.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities until 3.19.26 at 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time. PROPOSAL INFORMATION Proposal information is available as separate documents at https://columbus.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities. PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE A pre-proposal conference will not be held for this project. QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS OR PROJECT Questions pertaining to the plans, specifications, Request for Proposal, and/or other contract documents must be submitted in writing to the Department of Recreation & Parks, by email to acsauersmith@columbus.gov and jpschlichting@columbus.gov on or before 3.9.26. No phone calls will be accepted. The City or its representative will not be bound by any oral interpretations which are not reduced to writing and included in addenda. Any interpretations of questions so raised, which in the opinion of the city or its representative require interpretations, will be issued by addenda and posted on https://columbus.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities.