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Consideration of request by Forestry Superintendent for early allocation of Capital Funds for Hart Park Track Re-Surfacing
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Submitted by:
Alex Krutsch
Department:
Public Works - Parks and Forestry
A. Issue
The track surface at Hart Park Stadium is passed its useful life and in need of re-surfacing. In addition, the landing area for the long jump and triple jump events does not meet current National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) safety standards.
B. Background/Options
The current athletic complex at Hart Park, known as Hart Park Stadium, was constructed in 2009. The current track surface is original to that construction and has exceeded its expected life by 5 years. The track is now in need of re-surfacing and has been planned for in the capital budget (project 8015).
The landing area for the long jump and triple jump events does not meet current safety standards. NFHS regulations state that the landing area for these events should be a minimum of 23 feet in length. The landing areas at Hart Park Stadium are 15 feet in length. This creates two potential hazards. The first is the potential for an athlete to over-jump the landing area entirely, landing on a hard surface rather than the sand pit. Second, athletes consistently land deep into the pit resulting in sand being thrown onto the running lanes of the track creating a slippery surface for the runners.
Beynon Sports Surfaces constructed the initial track surface in 2009 and is an industry leader in providing track surfaces and has recently completed upgrades to the track and field facility at Marquette University, for example. Beynon Sports Surfaces provides contracted services through a cooperative purchasing agreement, Sourcewell, which will allow Wauwatosa to contract for the installation though cooperative purchasing contract pricing. Staff is recommending that the City contract with Beynon once again for the track re-surfacing and to bring the long and triple jump landing area up to current safety standards.
There is a limited window of time in the summer of 2025 when this work can be performed without impacting the Spring and Fall sports schedule of Tosa East High School. It is critical that the City executes a contract as soon as possible in order to secure an installation timeline that minimizes disturbance to the users of Hart Park Stadium.
A layout of what the track will look like after the work has been performed is included in the packet.
C. Strategic Plan (Area of Focus)
Priority Area Three: Infrastructure
Priority Area Five: Quality of Life
D. Fiscal Impact
Revenue generated from stadium user fees is budgeted for in the Parks Capital Reserve Fund. This money is earmarked for track and field replacement. The total cost for re-surfacing and replacement of the landing areas is quoted at $851,108. Of that total the re-surfacing is $558,782 and replacement of the landing areas is $292,326. The City’s finance director has confirmed that funding for this project is available in the Park Reserve Fund. However, a planned upgrade to the lighting at the softball field will need to be postponed pending funding availability.
E. Recommendation
Staff is recommending early allocation of capital funds from the Park Reserve Fund in the amount of $851,108. This will allow staff to execute a contract and secure a spot on Beynon’s construction schedule with the intent to minimize impacts to users at Hart Park Stadium in 2025.