Memorial grandstand project put on ice

COEUR d’ALENE — The grandstands at Memorial Field won’t get the facelift this winter that city administrators had anticipated.

The council this week rejected bids for the project set to begin next month that would have refurbished the inside of the antiquated green structure, added locker rooms, concession and ticket areas, a home team dugout as well as ADA access.

City Parks and Rec director Bill Greenwood asked that all bids be declined, and that his department be allowed to hire a construction manager similar to what the city did during last year’s City Hall project.

Greenwood said the bids came in $200,000 more than anticipated.

“We’re asking you to reject and give the authority to go seek a construction manager,” Greenwood said.

He said the project may cost more than the $1.4 million projection, and his department would seek additional funding from other sources to keep the project on the table.

“We are in the process of talking to our partners to acquire a little bit more capital,” he said.

Architects West designed the rebuild of the ballfield’s grandstand that would be paid by ignite cda, the city’s development company, along with funding from North Idaho College and the city.

Built in the 1940s, the Memorial Field Grandstand seats as many as 800 spectators and is used primarily for North Idaho College softball games.

Refurbishing the iconic structure was part of the city’s Four Corners plan along Northwest Boulevard, which includes the carousel — built and maintained through a private foundation and completed last year, adding parking lots, a skatepark and a greenbelt extending from City Beach to Riverstone along the Spokane River.

Items including drainage around the building, a scorekeeper’s platform, cedar siding, restrooms with stainless steel bathroom fixtures were not part of the original bid, but will be part of the final construction, which may include donations of an additional $300,000.

Greenwood said the city put off going out to bid in an effort to get a better price, but it did not pan out, and said waiting for a better bidding climate is an option.

“The prices weren’t as good as we hoped,” he said.

Aside from adding bleachers and a dugout, the ball field is ready for next season, he said.

Mayor Steve Widmyer opted against setting aside the project for another time.

“I’m good with rejecting this bid, I don’t know that things are going to get any cheaper,” Widmyer said. “I would like to keep the momentum going of getting this project completed.”