The skyrocketing cost of a new trail system at Rochester Park has forced Coquitlam council to decide between putting more money into the project or scaling back some of its features.
City staff initially budgeted $450,000 for the trail network but said the steepness and instability of some of the slopes increased the expected cost to $1.05 million, an overrun of $600,000. A particularly expensive aspect of the system are the stairs, which are made of steal and require pile driving to be secure.
In order to keep the overall project under the estimated $4.1 million initially presented to council, staff said certain amenities would have to be removed, including a zipline, a tunnel slide, a climbing wall and some water play elements. The parking lot would also have to be gravel instead of asphalt.
“Those things we have taken out, we believe we can add back in as funding comes available,” said Michelle Hunt, the city’s director of planning and business services.
Raul Allueva, the city’s general manager of parks and recreation, said contracts for the work have already been signed. He added that staff had to move quickly on the decision in order for the work to be done in conjunction with some engineering work that is taking place in the same area.
Still, several council members expressed dismay that staff had gone ahead with the expensive trail network without consulting council.
Mayor Richard Stewart said he believed cheaper alternatives could have been found had further discussions taken place.
Others, like councillors Craig Hodge and Teri Towner, said they did not believe amenities should be removed because of unforeseen geotechnical problems on the sight.
“I would hate to see the cost challenges with the soil conditions… take away from making this park very unique and more of a destination for the area,” Towner said.
Including the amenities that have been removed would add approximately $250,000 to the $4.1 million already allocated for the park. Staff were directed to come back to council with costed-out options for retaining some or all of the features.
The redevelopment of Rochester Park has been on the city’s radar for the last couple of years in a neighbourhood that council has said is underserved by public amenities.
Work on the park has been broken up into four zones including:
• the southern trail network and ravine for $1.05 million;
• the northern portion, which will feature skate-able elements, a children’s play area, an informal grassy picnic area and a parking lot at a cost of $1.4 million;
• the western area, which will feature a water play area, washrooms and a picnic shelter at a cost of $1.5 million;
• and a southern park area, consisting primarily of grass, which is expected to cost $60,000.
