City approves bids for parks department spaces at NexusPark

Photo provided An artist’s rendition of NexusPark as shown from 25th Street.

Photo provided An artist’s rendition of NexusPark as shown from 25th Street.

Construction of parks administrative and community spaces at NexusPark is shaping up to cost about $17.8 million.

The Columbus Board of Works recently awarded three contracts for the project.

Dunlap & Company has been approved for general trades and construction, as well as plumbing, HVAC and fire protection. The company’s proposal was $14.995 million.

Forster Electrical Services of Columbus, the sole bidder on the project’s electrical package, has been approved with a bid of $2.09 million. Ovation Technology Group was the sole bidder on communications, electronic safety and security and has been approved with a bid of $748,450.

Altogether, the three companies’ bids total $17,833,450.

City officials have said that the project will take place indoors in an area that extends from the former JCPenney area to the site of the new fieldhouse. The planned spaces include parks administration offices, three multipurpose rooms, a child watch area, a fitness center, a teaching kitchen, three conference rooms, support spaces for the fieldhouse, a gathering place, additional concessions space and common areas.

Columbus City Council voted in March of 2022 to use up to $11.5 million in bonds to fund parks and recreation spaces at the campus. The bonds are payable from a special tax levied on the Columbus Park District.

The city was later awarded a $6 million Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative grant for NexusPark. According to state officials, only parks offices and community spaces will be funded through the grant. This includes parks administration offices, community conference rooms, youth multi-purpose rooms, low-cost fitness areas, a child watch area and a teaching kitchen.