Huntingburg Park Board approves bid for pickleball courts, expanded parking

The Huntingburg Park Board unanimously approved a bid for an expanded pickleball court project that includes significant parking lot improvements, accepting the sole proposal submitted by Cal Car for $69,375.

The project represents an upgrade from the original pickleball court-only proposal, which carried a price tag of $29,830. Council members opted for the alternate bid that combines pickleball court paving with an extended parking lot that will connect the existing parking areas into a unified space and create three courts.

“The parking lot will extend all the way through to the south entrance so that we can extend the parking lot,” explained Parks and Recreation Director Jace Merkel.

The approved bid is based on volume calculations, which means the final cost could fluctuate slightly depending on actual material usage. Combining the two projects also saves on equipment mobilization costs.

The park and recreation department already has the majority of the project costs encumbered from previous budget allocations for the original pickleball court proposal.

The new parking configuration will feature a one-way traffic flow system designed to improve circulation and reduce congestion during peak usage periods. The design connects the existing parking near the pool and tennis court areas to the southern entrance and will significantly increase parking in that area.

CalCar was the only contractor to submit a bid for the project, despite the city’s efforts to solicit multiple proposals.

Board member Mike Fulkerson said that a lot of residents have been asking about the timeline on the completion of the project.

The project’s construction timing was not specified during the meeting because it depends on the weather and when it warms enough for asphalt plants to resume production operations. Mayor Neil Elkins said he hoped it would be in April and was pushing for the city to be among the first projects CalCar takes on.

“It has been a long-going project, but they just have to understand, it’s been one step forward and two steps back,” said board member Dustin Schmett

The city has had three contractors consider the job, with two accepting it and then backing out, which stalled the process as the weather turned cold and the work could not be completed.

“It’s taken a while, but I think in the end, it’s going to be a better design court,” Mayor Neil Elkins said.