A park project at Crescent Park that was in the city’s budget, then out of it, then back in it, is headed out to bid.

And city staff are optimistic the bids will come in on budget this time.

Department of Public Works Director Mike Holtz told the Parks & Recreation Commission that the project will be advertised this weekend with bids set to be opened in early March.

That timeline, he said, would put the project before Warren County Council at its March meeting.

This marks the second time the project has gone out to bid — bids came in substantially over budget the first time.

Holtz explained that the project was bid in its entirety the first time.

“This bid, we are going to in house do a portion of the work,” he said, “which is the trail and the conduit and some of the minor stuff.”

He said that “taking on those roles” should bring the bids in line with the budget.

City Manager Nancy Freenock said the second bid will go out in alternatives — she described it as a “shopping list” — where the city will be able to pick and choose from specific elements of the project.

She told the commission that might mean the entire project can be completed in this one round.

“Between the two new methods we’re doing, (we) will get a really good project,” she said.

COMMISSION DISCUSSES REC PLAN

As part of a broader comprehensive planning process, the city is working on a new recreation plan that will address the city’s various parks.

Freenock told the commission that a public draft of the plan will be available in the next couple weeks.

As a result, the commission plans to spend much of its April 6 meeting discussing the plan.