January 31, 2022

Public Works Committee Approves Next Phase of Dinosaur Park Upgrades

(FEBRUARY 3 UPDATE):

The Public Works Committee approved this item at Tuesday's meeting.  The proposal moves on to the full City Council meeting Monday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.

RAPID CITY, SD—One of the featured items on Tuesday’s Public Works Committee agenda is authorizing staff to advertise for bids for the Dinosaur Park Accessibility Improvements Project.

The project will upgrade the iconic Dinosaur Park with accessible pedestrian routes, bring safety features up to code and provide new and upgraded visitor amenities including site interpretation.  Upon action by the Public Works Committee, the proposal will move to the City Council Monday night.  Last May, the Council authorized Tallgrass Landscape Architecture, LLC to design the upgrades.  Dinosaur Park improvements were presented to the City’s Vision Fund Citizens Committee in 2018 and were among the items approved in the 2019 Vision Fund allocations by the City Council.  The projected $3.5 million project is scheduled to be funded with $1.6 million from the Vision Fund and the remainder from the Rapid City Parks and Recreation Department’s Capital Improvements Project (CIP) Fund and government facilities fund.

            “We are excited to get this project moving to the next important phase,” said Melissa Petersen, City Parks and Recreation landscape designer.  “Dinosaur Park is one of the most visible images of Rapid City, a very popular place to visit for residents and visitors alike. It has needed accessibility upgrades and other improvements for many years.”

            Dinosaur Park is one of Rapid City’s iconic attractions.  Dedicated in 1936, the Park was constructed by city crews and the Works Progress Administration (WPA).  The dinosaur sculptures were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. Over the years, maintenance and renovations have been made to parking, some pedestrian access, pavement and to the dinosaurs.

            The Public Works Committee will meet tomorrow (Tuesday) at 12:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall.

Among other agenda items to be considered by the City’s Public Works Committee Tuesday are several infrastructure improvement items.  Among them:

SUNBURST DRIVE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT:  This $2.3 million project includes reconstruction of Sunburst Drive, Shadow Court and Treeline Court, located in the Wildwood neighborhood of Rapid City.  Work on the two-year project will include realignment of the roadways within the existing right of way, installation of approximately 2,500 feet of new asphalt pavement, replacement of approximately 2,200 feet of existing water mains, installation of approximately 1,400 feet of new sanitary sewer mains and installation of drainage culverts. Replacement of the existing 14-inch ductile iron watermain with a 16-inch PVC watermain is also part of the project.  Call for bids is scheduled for March 15 with completion date for the two-year project scheduled for the fall of 2023.

SAINT CLOUD STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT: This agenda item will authorize staff to advertise the project, which will include more than 500 feet of eight-inch sanitary sewer main to address non-conforming sewer services along Saint Cloud Street and an adjacent alley between Saint Cloud Street and Saint James Street.  Cost estimate for the project is $525,000. Approximately 770 feet of asphalt street and some curb and gutter will be replaced.  Anticipated start date for the project is April 18 with a completion date scheduled for November 18. 

DOWNTOWN PARKING RAMP MAINTENANCE PROJECT: This proposal requests authorization for a professional services agreement with Albertson Engineering Inc. for the Block 75 Parking Ramp Maintenance Project.  The design cost for the project is approximately $172,896.  Ultimately, the project will include concrete repair, concrete crack and joint sealants, joint reinforcement, stair tower improvements, plumbing and electrical improvements for the downtown parking ramp facility.  Completion date for the project is scheduled for December 1.

LANE LINE PAINTING PROJECT:  The annual city-wide longitudinal line repainting project includes spring repainting of existing lane, edge and center lines and fall repainting with a second coat on select arterial and collector roadways.  Cost of the project is $180,000.  The project is scheduled to begin no earlier than May 15 and competed no later than June 24 and is dependent on weather, temperature and road conditions as well as availability of materials. 

 

Here is the agenda link:  https://www.rcgov.org/agendas/public-works-agendas/2022-public-works-agendas/2022-02-01-public-works-committee-meeting-10370.html

 

Login Form