The City of Ithaca has secured a $500,000 grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) for significant upgrades to the Cass Park Pavilion and adjacent bathroom facilities. The Common Council voted unanimously to move two critical resolutions related to this grant to the consent agenda for their June meeting, signaling broad support for the project.
The project was initially established in the 2024 budget and aims to replace the aging 1970s Cass Park Pavilion and Bathroom. The project has faced funding challenges, with the current authorization of $50,000 falling short of the design costs. However, the newly acquired grant will significantly offset these expenses, allowing for a comprehensive upgrade.
The Ithaca Youth Bureau, which operates and maintains the pavilion and bathroom, has worked closely with city engineering staff and the design consultant Barton & Loguidice. They estimate the total cost for design, construction, and construction support to be $988,000. This includes additional design costs in 2024, construction in 2025, and support and inspection costs.
The proposed upgrades include building a new pavilion approximately 42 feet by 66 feet and a 480-square-foot bathroom facility with four ADA-accessible, gender-neutral/family bathrooms. The fixtures will be water- and energy-efficient, aligning with Ithaca's Green New Deal goals. The new facilities will be solar-ready and designed for low maintenance.
Additionally, the project will improve accessibility with a new driveway loop, two ADA-compliant parking spaces, and six other parking spaces serving the bathroom, pavilion, nearby playground, and trails.
Despite rising construction costs and past delays, the Council emphasized the community's need for these improvements. The grant, part of the Environmental Protection Act, is a reimbursement program, meaning the city must initially fund the project before being reimbursed by the state. As a result, the City of Ithaca will need to allocate $488,000 to cover the remaining costs of the project.
The resolutions now set for the June consent agenda will officially authorize the acceptance of the grant and amend the project's budget to reflect the full $988,000 needed. This includes authorizing the issuance of bonds or other financing methods for the city’s portion of the costs.
These upgrades are seen as vital for enhancing the usability and accessibility of Cass Park, benefiting residents and visitors alike. If approved in June, the project will move forward, aiming to provide much-needed modern amenities and support the city’s environmental and community goals.
Sidewalk Construction Costs
Following the vote to advance the Cass Park project, the Common Council unanimously approved a resolution regarding sidewalk construction costs along the 300 block of Fall Creek Drive and the 400 block of Oak Avenue. The resolution finalizes the assessment of construction costs to be billed to Cornell University as the abutting property owner.
According to the resolution, under the direction of the City of Ithaca Engineering Division, contractors completed the construction of new sidewalk sections in 2023, with consultation from relevant Cornell University staff and departments. The post-construction final costs, totaling $529,387.87, were prepared by the City Engineer's Office in accordance with City Charter sections C-73 and C-89.
As the abutting property owner, Cornell University has waived the request for a public hearing regarding the assessment. The resolution directs the City Chamberlain to invoice Cornell University, with payment due within 30 days of the billing date. Alternatively, the property owner may request to pay in up to five annual installments.
The resolution also outlines additional details, including a 25% overhead fee to be billed to the property owner, a 50% reduction in new curbing costs, and the exclusion of billing for new drainage infrastructure, which remains the City's responsibility.
WasteWater Treatment Plant Capital Project
During the meeting, the Common Council also unanimously approved a resolution for a $300,000 Capital Project at the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant (IAWWTP).
Owned jointly by the City of Ithaca, the Town of Ithaca, and the Town of Dryden, the IAWWTP is a 38-year-old facility that Assistant Superintendent for Water and Sewer Scott Gibson has said needs repair. Recognizing the facility's aging infrastructure and the need for modernization, stakeholders have prioritized the development of a comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan Project (CIPP).
Barton & Loguidice, D.P.C. has emerged as the chosen consulting firm to lead the project. Their proposed Engineering Agreement, presented on February 21, outlines services with an estimated cost of $300,000. This expenditure is anticipated to be partly offset by a 50% funding contribution from the NYSERDA Flextech grant, with the remaining matched by local entities.
The City of Ithaca will contribute $122,640 (57.14%), the Town of Ithaca will contribute $105,300 (38.57%), and the Town of Dryden will contribute $11,940 (4.29%).
(1) comment
My grandkids have attended Cass Park summer camp. Last year there were a lot of lightening storms. I asked the staff what the plan was to get kids inside during a lightening event and they advised that the kids were moved to an open pavilion . Open structures DO NOT provide proper lightening protection. Can something be done in this construction project to correct this safety hazard?
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