A working agreement with Orr Partners LLC was given a “not to exceed” contract for the initial construction of Clemyjontri Park during a Fairfax County Park Authority board meeting Wednesday night.
The contract is for further groundbreaking at the park, with a spending limit of $556,927 established by the Park Authority, said Judy Pedersen, representative of the Authority.
“As far as who’s going to build what, that’s still being discussed,” Pedersen said, adding that the contract has to be approved by the county Board of Supervisors. The contract needs the Board’s approval because the park is partially funded through a grant from the Public/Private Education and Infrastructure Act of 2002, Pedersen said.
“The contract will go before the Board of Supervisors during a meeting on Feb. 28,” said Mark Holsteen, project manager for Clemyjontri Park. “I don’t see any reason why the Board won’t approve it. We’re continuing to negotiate the agreement so we can take it to the Board then.”
“We’ve officially broken ground under the conditions of a previous agreement and think we’ll be able to find some savings and get the project done faster working this way,” Pedersen said.
“This is just so cool,” said Bob Brennan, executive director of the Fairfax County Park Foundation. “It’s so exciting when a public/private partnership helps kids who need it so much.”
He also applauds the groups, organizations and individuals who have already pitched in to help make the park a reality, from contractors and developers to those organizing fundraising functions.
“The people who are building this park have built Northern Virginia, and now they’re doing this for the kids,” he said. “It’s amazing.”
The park will be located on an 18-acre parcel of land on Old Georgetown donated to the Parks Authority by Adele Lebowitz to be used as a park and playground equipped for special needs children to enjoy with their family and friends. It is expected to open late this fall, Holsteen said.
<1b>-Amber Healy