New London Parks Committee reviews project cost estimate
By Robert Cloud
New London Parks and Recreation Director Ginger Arndt met with Public Works Director Luke Hammons and Mike Lemke with Holten Bros. Construction to review the wall around Hatten Park.
She provided an update on the wall to the Parks and Recreation Committee when it met Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Holten Bros. provided a quote for resetting copings and repairing or rebuilding five sections of the wall, totaling 74 feet.
Total costs for the project were estimated at nearly $68,000.
Arndt recommended starting with a 40-foot section of the wall on Werner-Allen Boulevard, across from New London Middle School, because it is the most visible.
Holten Bros. estimated that section would cost $43,850 to rebuild.
In order to preserve the historical integrity of the wall, Arndt said Holten Bros. would reuse stones from the existing walls and, if needed, stones from other WPA-era projects.
Members of the committee noted that starting with the most visible section of the wall would make it easier to generate public interest and donations toward completing the project.
After the meeting, City Administrator Chad Hoerth told the New London Press Star, “We are adding that item/project to our capital projects schedule, but the capital projects committee will then need to determine if that project is funded compared to other items on the list. That next capital projects meeting will probably be in February.”