Council hears River’s Edge park cost update and approves advertising park fee changes

Council members read into the record an amendment to an existing build-operate-transfer agreement that adds the River’s Edge park project and updates pricing, and approved advertising changes to the park fee schedule.

The recorded amendment increased the contract total by $6.25 million on top of an $891,000 playground package, producing an in-record total of $7.141 million for the River’s Edge and playground work. Staff said the funding for the amended scope is covered by grants and other non-city income streams already identified.

Separately, Superintendent Steel presented proposed minor fee adjustments for park rentals and requested that two additional shelters and two pool cabanas be added to the city’s rental schedule. She said the park board had approved the adjustments at its recent meeting and asked the council to authorize advertising the fee changes so the item can return for a vote after the required public notice. The council approved advertising the proposed fee schedule by voice vote.

Why it matters: the amendment puts the River’s Edge project scope and pricing on record and advances procurement steps; advertising the fee changes is the required procedural step before final council action on the park fee schedule.

Next steps: staff will advertise the proposed fee schedule and bring the ordinance or fee resolution back for council consideration after the public-notice period. Procurement and grant requirements for the River’s Edge work will proceed under the amended build-operate-transfer agreement, according to staff statements in the meeting record.

Sources: council reading of the build-operate-transfer amendment and Superintendent Steel’s presentation to the Connorsville Common Council, March 2, 2026.