Short Bidding May be the Answer

by Keith Frankland

In this day and age of rising construction costs, Park Districts like all other municipal agencies, face a constant problem of facility construction. Facing this problem, the Woodridge Park District undertook the construction of a new pool and bathhouse, parking lot and ice skating rink with $168,000.00. The money had been derived from a $78,000.00 donation from a developer and a $90,000.00 non-referendum bond issue.

The basic types of pool construction was first analyzed to determine what types of construction would be best for the dollar spent. The second concept discussed was that of how to keep pool costs below the amount of money we had. After considerable discussion, the Board elected to use the short bid process which is accepting bids on facilities that have been built or designed for other agencies. It was the opinion of the Board of Commissioners that a pool did not have to be specifically designed for Woodridge in order to make it a workable facility.

We advertised for bids for plans and construction of a swimming pool to include the following: a 75' 1" x 42' 6" swimming basin with a 35' x 35' diving well for one and three meter diving boards, wading pool, and deck and bathhouse which would meet the health requirements of the State of Illinois.

Six bids were received ranging in cost from $151,000.00 to $275,264.00. Only two bids submitted were within our budget for the project.

After careful consideration the contract was awarded to Jensen Swimming Pools of Barrington, Illinois in the amount of $153,000.00. The bid included the following specifications for the facility:

20" concrete reinforced pool walls
16' wading pool
84' x 30' bathhouse face brick and concrete construction.

All equipment for operation. The contractor would furnish all labor and materials necessary for construction of the facility excluding utility connections.

Because the pool was bid on the short bid process, construction supervision was done by the Park District with the aid of a pool consultant. Construction began in February of 1973 and the facility was opened to the public on July 18, 1973.

The parking lot was finished in the fall of the year and was used for ice skating through the winter months. We had a six inch asphalt curb placed around the lot and the overhead lights of the pool are reversible so as to light the ice rink at night.

The landscaping was finished in spring with the celebration of Arbor Day. The Winston Hills Garden Club, a local women's club, provided landscape designs and bids for materials to finish the pool. The area in front of the parking lot is the future site of four lighted tennis courts.

(Editor's Note: Keith Frankland is the Director of Parks & Recreation for the Woodridge Park District. More information on short bidding will be available at the annual conference. A special session on the topic is planned.)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 10 July/August, 1975