The Lower Makefield Township Board of Supervisors approved a total of $1.2 million in recreation and infrastructure projects at its Sept. 21 meeting.
Green lighted were contracts of $157,955 to Bencardino Excavating for phase one of drainage improvements in the Maplevale section, $646,200 to Richard E. Pierson Construction Company for a 3,400-foot extension of the Woodside Road bike path, and $387,110 to Keystone Sports Constructors for reconstruction of four tennis courts on Schuyler Drive.
The bike path extension will stretch from Merrick Road, where the existing path ends, down to Taylorsville Road. It will be built on the opposite side of Woodside Road from the existing path because the township can use land on that side from a property it already owns, the Makefield Highlands Golf Club.
“The number (price) was a little higher than we anticipated but that’s not unusual given the current bidding climate,” township Engineer Andy Pockl said.
Most of the cost for the extension will be covered with a total of $405,000 in two grants from the state Department of Community and Economic Development.
Construction should start in October, Pockl added. On his recommendation, the supervisors opted not to add a $51,165 alternate bid that would have involved a crosswalk and other improvements at the Woodside-Taylorsville intersection.
Phase one of the Maplevale drainage improvements will involve installation of additional inlets and other items at the intersection of Maplevale Avenue and Taylorsville Road. The section suffered severe flooding about a year ago from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. Construction of phase one should start and finish in October, Pockl estimated.
The Schuyler Drive tennis courts have been in bad shape for a long time and reconstruction is one of the more pressing recreational needs in the township, Parks and Recreation Director Monica Tierney has said. Lower Makefield has set aside $400,000 from net proceeds of the sale of the township sewer system for the project, but the supervisors have the option to change the funding source if a majority of board members chooses.
Also at the Sept. 21 meeting, the board approved an $88,335 contract with Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson for a master plan study of Macclesfield Park on River Road. Township Police Chief-Interim Manager Ken Coluzzi said the JMT proposal was the lowest of three that were received.
Among many other aspects, the master plan study will analyze field usage and future needs at Macclesfield to see if it’s possible to create more field time there to better meet the needs of the athletic organizations and others who use township baseball, softball, soccer and other fields.
Supervisors John Lewis and Daniel Grenier have said township officials should not further explore possible development of the Snipes Tract or other options for more athletic fields until it is known what is possible at Macclesfield.
On the recommendation of Pockl, the supervisors rejected a $238,143 bid from Richard E. Pierson Construction for the South Drive culvert replacement, and will rebid the project in the hope of getting a lower price.
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