Construction manager sought for 141-acre public park in Lake County

Lake County is seeking a a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) to complete full buildout of the long-awaited South Lake Regional Park and its associated road improvements in Groveland, a project estimated at $18.5 million, according to a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued on Thursday.

Construction of the 141-acre park would include the associated Phase 1 improvements to Max Hooks Road, which involves an entry road to the park and related utilities.

A park in the area has been on the county's agenda for more than 10 years. The chosen county-owned site is in unincorporated Lake County between Groveland and Clermont, south of S.R. 50 on Max Hooks Road and Cathedral Lane.

The work could include mass grading for the park land. Design for the project is underway, and production of construction documents currently in process.

The project's total estimated budget as of now is $18.5 million, which includes design, entry road and utilities, mass grading, construction of fields and park structures, amenities, professional fees and soft costs.

The county wants a CMAR with a demonstrated record of experience and success in construction of governmental facilities, parks, sports complexes and related road work.

Development is planned in three phases from north to south. The first phase includes four youth baseball fields, four softball fields, a cricket field, beach volleyball court and a paddle launch.

Phase 2 includes four more softball fields, four multi-purpose fields, a fitness area, playgrounds, a basketball court and a tennis/pickleball court, as well as parking.

Phase 3 includes two full-sized baseball fields, two more multi-purpose fields, another parking lot and a picnic/passive park. A dog park is also inked in for the third phase.

The land planned for the park lies on the edge of the Green Swamp, and once served as an effluent spray field and a citrus grove at another point in time.

The CMAR would be expected to prepare an overall construction management plan for the project, prepare a construction estimate and anticipated schedules, among other preconstruction services.

Following that, duties would include project cost control, obtaining related permits, procuring subcontractors, keeping the county updated on progress weekly, and guaranteeing the overall quality of the work.

Vendors are advised that the county may elect to seek financing options for the project at the time a firm price for the construction phase is finalized with the chosen CMAR.

The county has provided pricing tables in its RFP packet to aid applicants in their cost analysis for bids.

A mandatory pre-proposal conference will be held Feb. 15 at 1:30 p.m. in the building at the park itself.

Applications are due by March 7 at 3 p.m. to the county's Procurement Services Division office in Tavares.

Full documents for RFP no. 18-0207 can be found through Lake County's Procurement Services Division webpage.

GAI Consultants and BESH Engineering have contributed to the park's design thus far.

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