2 Friday, December 22, 2023 brooklintowncrier.com Monday - Thursday 9:00am-7:00pm Friday 9:00am-5:30pm Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm Sunday Closed Top Dollar for Your Trade 1201 Dundas St. East, Whitby SALES 905-668-5846 SERVICE 905-668-8871 PARTS 905-668-8853 ORDER YOUR PRE-OWNED CAR WITH US! SALES (905) 721-6599 SERVICE (905) 721-6588 PARTS (905) 721-6577 445 Winchester Road East, Brooklin Check out our Pre-Owned Inventory on our website! 2024 ELANTRA • 2023 SONATA 2024 VENUE • 2024 KONA 2024 TUCSON • 2023 SANTA FE 2024 PALISADE • 2024 SANTA CRUZ VIEW CURRENT SPECIAL OFFERS AT HYUNDAICANADA.COM OR COME SEE US! Brooklin resident Karen Martin recently asked North Ward Councillor Steve Lee for information about the work at Grass Park. Lee consulted Whitby staff who provided the following information. She also suggested the responses be published in the BTC because "That's why the paper exists - to inform the community." She forwarded the answers to us. What is the work being done? The Grass Park - Connect Whitby Project page outlines the project which is part of the Town of Whitby's ongoing program intended to restore aging park amenities and improve accessibility. Please also refer to the landscape plan. Upgrades includes but are not limited to: -Widening walkways to make them more accessible -Replacing pathways, seating, and garden walls -Relocation of light standards within the park, replacement of the existing water fountain and installation of all of the associated utility connections. -Restoration of the existing shade shelter preserving the existing commemorative pavers Why was this work necessary? The Grass Park Improvement project is part of the Town of Whitby's ongoing program intended to restore aging park amenities and improve accessibility. What is the cost of this work? The Town's budget for this project is $891,539.59. What will/has happened with the 'personalized' stones that were purchased by individuals several years ago? They will be restored. Why is the work taking so long? A project of this scale typically takes many months to complete when constructed during unpredictable fall and early winter weather conditions. Consequently, the project tender provided for a construction period running from September 19th 2023 through May 17th 2024.The park will remain closed with the perimeter construction fence in place throughout the winter. It is anticipated that Grass Park will reopen in early May 2024. When is the work scheduled to be completed? The park will remain closed with the perimeter construction fence in place throughout the winter. It is anticipated that Grass Park will reopen in early May 2024. Is the completion date on target? Yes. Is it true a large tree was removed? Was it deceased? or 'just in the way'? Tree protection fencing was one of the first items installed by the contractor and which was reviewed by the Town's Forestry Team to protect the mature tree canopy in Grass Park at the start of the project. Two trees were removed, likely you are referring to the blue spruce tree (300mm DBH in size) adjacent to Baldwin that was removed in the north west end of the park to allow for improved accessibility of the proposed plaza area and for the installation of the new water fountain (including the associated water line). A second smaller stunted/diseased silver maple tree was removed from northwest side of the park adjacent to Roebuck Street in consultation of the Town's Forestry team. How many companies bid on the project? A total of 5 bids were submitted to the Town. How was the timing of the project determined? Understanding the importance of the park to the community and the amount of time required to complete this project, the Parks Development team and the Events, Culture and Tourism Team collaborated to determine a construction period that would have the least impact to the community while still affording suitable weather for construction activities. Consequently, a fall construction period was selected to avoid the summer months and major activities including Music in the Park, the Harvest Festival and The Roebuck Street Placemaking Project. Although not ideal, since the majority of this construction work could not occur during the winter due to frozen conditions or the early spring to wet/soft ground and caused a break in the work for the contractor, it was deemed this period would minimize the impact to the community. What's Happening at Grass Park? What were the bids of each company? Bidder Tender Amount (including provisional items excluding HST) 1023362 Ontario Ltd. $868,471.86 Forest Ridge Landscaping Inc. $914,835.42 J. Hoover Ltd $954,540.00 Adems Restoration $998,360.00 CSL Group Ltd. $1,029,060.60