Monitor Editor
GREEN COVE SPRINGS— Clay County Manager Howard Wanamaker told commissioners that rising costs are forcing the county to scale back plans for a recreational sports park north of Camp Blanding.
During their Aug. 23 meeting, Wanamaker told commissioners that Phase 1 of the project now includes eight multi-purpose fields, an entrance sign, parking spots and restrooms.
When commissioners first approved Phase 1 in October, it included a 20-acre multi-use pond, a monument sign by State Road 21, a lighted entrance road, 10 multi-purpose fields, approximately 300 parking spaces, 10 sand volleyball courts, two miles of walking trails, a food court area for food trucks, three covered structures and restrooms.
Wanamaker told commissioners during their Aug. 23 meeting that the project is being squeezed by increased labor, material and fuel costs, more extensive wetlands on the property than first thought, soil types not conducive to construction, timelines for permitting and the deadline on a state grant that was to finance $3 million of the $6 million land acquisition and Phase 1 construction costs.
He added that the current design reserves space for some playground equipment, covered structures and a food truck area.
The county manager said his staff would seek an extension on the Dec. 31 grant deadline, update site plans and rebid construction. He said the county is seeking $500,000 in additional funding from the state for the park.
Commissioner Betsy Condon said officials thought the parcel contained one acre of wetlands. However, three acres of wetlands are on the property. She added that the three acres are not significant for the entire 250-acre parcel but do impact the eight-field Phase 1 portion of the project.
“The other thing that was eye-opening to me was that (the costs for) site prep work has doubled,” she said.
