Heritage Park nearing exterior completion; staff outlines timeline, change orders and tree‑wrapping caution

City project staff reported progress and upcoming change orders for Heritage Park and said the city expects the park exterior and landscaping to be ready for the annual Country Christmas celebration while interior work continues.

Nicole (staff member) said the contractor will request change orders for automatic fixtures in restrooms, removal of a concrete tree wall, and additional time for a roll‑up door and HVAC configuration issues. Staff now plans to request a revised substantial‑completion date of Nov. 18 and final completion on Dec. 2; substantial completion on Nov. 18 would allow the city to clean the site for the Country Christmas event while interior work continues.

Nicole said landscaping and the roll‑up door will be bid separately; the roll‑up door area will be temporarily finished with a façade so it is not exposed during events. She noted a potential credit back to the city for fiber pavers and the removal of a drinking fountain that avoided running a new service line.

Council members and staff discussed the park’s newly transplanted evergreen. Nicole said the city will work with the arborist to determine acceptable decoration methods to avoid voiding the transplant warranty. Councilmember Kwame said the contractor advised ‘‘loose wrapping’’ of lights rather than tight wraps to protect the newly planted tree; staff noted the city maintains a one‑year warranty on transplanted trees and a replacement fund not to exceed $10,000 if the tree is damaged.

Why it matters: Heritage Park is the centerpiece for downtown seasonal events. The revised completion dates and change‑order items affect whether the facility and its restrooms and concessions will be usable for the upcoming holiday events and how landscaping and warranty concerns will be handled.