Cape Girardeau City Council approves $2.24 million bid for Shawnee Sports Complex project

After scrapping bids and redesigning the community center, Cape Girardeau is set to begin construction and continue improvements of the Shawnee Sports Complex.

On Monday, the city council accepted a $2.24 million bid from Denali Construction for a community center and concession stands for the soccer and softball fields. The construction is among the projects supported by the sales tax passed by voters in April 2008.

In June, council rejected bids for the improvements because they would cost at least $250,000 more than the funds available. In September, council went ahead with part of the project when it approved spending $1.23 million to add three new softball-baseball fields and two new soccer-football fields, along with accompanying lighting and parking, at the sports complex.

The city worked with architect Mitchell Malone to redesign the community center, said Dan Muser, director of the city's Parks and Recreation Department.

"He was really inventive in some things he came up with designwise," he said.

When the project went out to bid, it included "add alternate" projects. The alternates, which included a larger fitness/activity room, a larger meeting room and an emergency generator, did not fit into the budget for the center and concession stands.

"It didn't work out, and we still have a good project," he said.

The community center will still include a kitchen, meeting room and gym.

"We're following what we said we were going to do," Muser said.

The lowest bid was $142,817 higher than the $2.1 million estimate for the project. Because the buildings will be constructed later than expected, Muser said, money budgeted for operation costs will make up for the shortfall.

During the redesign, space allocation was not an issue, he said. The lobby area is smaller, but the gym is larger. Some cost efficiencies were put into the design, he said.

The concession stands, which include restrooms, will be complete in the spring. The community center is expected to be complete in the fall, Muser said.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO

1157 S. West End Blvd., Cape Girardeau, MO