Meadows Park trail project coming
Meadows Park is located near the Masonic Lodge. The park is set to benefit from the City of Mustang’s recent decision on the trail project. PHOTO BY JACOB STURM
By Jacob Sturm
news@mustangpaper.com
Enthusiasts of the outdoors may soon have another location to enjoy.
That is the case due to a recent City Council decision to accept bids and make a decision
regarding a trail project planned for Meadows Park. Melissa Helsel, the community
development director for the City of Mustang, presented the information to the council on June 6.
“Several years ago, we applied through the Department of Commerce to the Federal
Department of Housing and Urban Development for a CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) Grant to construct a walking trail in Meadows Park,” Helsel said.
Helsel said the purpose of CDBG Grants are to serve qualified communities through providing amenities along with other things to improve the quality of life.
CDBG grants are also restricted grant funds that are meant only for areas where 51% or more of the residents are in the income threshold to qualify. There are also things CDBG grants cannot cover, offering additional complications for the trail construction plan.
Mustang got to the point where the project was approved and the work went out to bid. Helsel indicated the project received a good amount of interest once bids were sent out.
“We received 10 bids on this project, which is a good amount,” Helsel said to the council.
Meadows Park, located behind the Mustang Masonic Lodge near S Meadow Lane, will be the
recipient of the .81-mile trail.
The original project cost, including the 20% contingency the city plans for incase prices go over budget, totaled $356,020. The City of Mustang manages half of the costs according to Helsel while the CDBG grant will be matched. The grant will help decrease the city payment for the project, but will also decrease the amount the city can draw from the CDBG grant fund.
Helsel said the City of Mustang proposed to pay $153,797.77, while the state will pay
$152,222.23 in the original project documents. City Council voted to accept the bids followed
by discussion on what bid the city would proceed with, where staff recommended awarding the bid to Red River Homes for $228,659.50. The proposed bid came in under the anticipated budget.
Helsel told the Mustang Times the numbers the city and state will pay would likely be less than the above proposal ($153,797.77 and $152,222.23, respectively) due to the low bid submitted.
Councilmembers voted with unanimous consent to award the bid to wrap up their conversation during the meeting.
A finalized contract with Red River Homes is anticipated to be on the City Council agenda for
July. The contract is expected to set out a date for the period of time the company has to start
work on the project, a get a clear idea on the timeline for the work.
“This will just provide a recreation opportunity for that neighborhood, and it will be paid for
with matching funds from the CDBG program,” Helsel said.
