With the city’s South Yosemite Park project site prepped and the surrounding street construction in the finishing stages, the Oakdale City Council moved forward at its Aug. 15 meeting with a contract for a company to complete the park creation that began with the pedestrian improvement project around the park site.

“We have enough revenue to build a park,” announced Public Services Director Thom Clark in the agenda item to award the project bid to General Engineering Contractor Ross F. Carroll of Oakdale.

The firm’s bid of $2,883,482 was the lowest of five companies that made proposals to the city. The original bid was increased by $55,000 for the addition of electrical receptors in tree wells and additional wrought iron fencing.

Clark said the electrical upgrade with allow the city to put up Christmas and other decorative lighting. He also explained that the fence upgrade would replace a planned chain link fence along the railroad, fully enclosing the park in a wrought iron fence. The total cost of the fencing with the fence upgrade along the railroad tracks is $181,625 which had been set aside.

As part of the construction per the grant, the park design called for a restroom building with an attached concession stand. In a separate item, the city chose to use a standard building already approved by the state that will be constructed for just over $207,554.

The cost of the city’s newest endeavor is covered with a Proposition 84 state grant and $181,625 of city park capital funds.

Clark explained that construction contingencies in the amount of $146,923 were set aside as part of the financial projection which should bring the completed project $12,000 under budget.

“We made it, but not by much,” Clark said.

During discussion, Clark pointed out that two alternatives in the plan, decorative horseshoes on opposite park ends, were not going to be part of the project due to costs.

“The horseshoes made it look like Oakdale,” Mayor Pat Paul said, but understood they were cost prohibitive.

There was discussion on the dais that if contingency funds weren’t exhausted, that remaining monies could still go to some upgrades.

“We had to balance all the amenities to make sure the park was kept under the grant, while still using the best of the best,” City Manager Bryan Whitemyer said.

The first part of the park, the skateboard area, is the first phase expected to be completed.

The council also discussed how a name for the park could be selected and will be reaching out to the community for name recommendations.

Part of the plan, according to Clark, calls for the park name to be in a wrought iron archway at the park’s entrance.

“I don’t think ‘South Yosemite Avenue Community Park’ is going to fit,” quipped Clark.