Nikole Babb, nbabb@cherryroad.com
As the bandshell project continues, the City of El Dorado discussed early survey results last Wednesday, October 1 during a work session. The results showed that residents preferred the Forest Park renovation option over the Gordy Park option. Stipulations come with both.
After several community members expressed discontent with the City of El Dorado’s idea to build a new bandshell/amphitheater in Gordy Park, the city opened an option to renovate the current bandshell in Forest Park. This option they said, is weighing more popular in the city survey over the Gordy Park option.
Residents expressed their love for the old bandshell in Forest Park on social media, stating it holds history for the community.
The project, which started out to be slated for Gordy Park, already has $485,000 committed through excess sales tax funds and $50,000 committed through the city’s tourism fund. The Gordy Park project could run the city a bill of up to $1.2 million. To renovate the current bandshell up to ADA guidelines and more, it could offer the city a bill of up to $940,000.
If the City Commission continues with a Forst Park option, which was heavily considered that evening due to preliminary survey results, the question of fixing W 9th Avenue comes into question. It would also leave the city back to the drawing board on what to do with Gordy Park.
The street just north of Forst Park, W 9th Avenue, has been known for some time to be undermaintained. The road isn’t paved and is the host of many deep potholes, making it non-favorable to drive on. The weight of fixing it has been on the city’s mind yet remains untouched due to the cost.
According to the City Engineering Director, Scott Rickard, the estimates to rehab the road were $1.45 million in 2023. He says the cost could be closer to $3 million with the jump in inflation and construction materials but doesn’t have the exact updated estimate.
He also estimated that the road sees 500 cars per day, which brought up the question of closing the road entirely if the Forest Park option were chosen. Commissioner Kelly Tetrick noted that the Commission declined rehabilitating the road in 2023 due to the cost.
Near the end of the discussion, Commissioners Leon Leachman, Kendra Wilkinson and Sydney Scribner were in favor of moving forward with Forest Park but didn’t like the thought of spending nearly $4 million to rehab the road and bandshell. The cost seemed to be a weighty issue with this option to the commission.
City Manager David Dillner offered the Commission the option to include the cost of the road in the sales tax option that is being considered to fund the proposed aquatic center. This way there is one funding source for two projects. The details of this option are unclear but was mentioned.
No action was taken. It was decided to let the survey remain open to the public for further consideration. The City of El Dorado has not put a closing date on the survey. As of October 10, the survey cannot be found under the city’s project portal for the Gordy Park Amphitheater and Pavillion.
The Gordy Park Pavillion and Amphitheater project will continue to be discussed at public meetings. The next Work Session meeting will be on Wednesday, October 15 starting at 5pm. All City Commission meetings and Work Sessions are held in the Commission Room inside City Hall located at 220 E. 1st Ave. The meetings are open to the public to attend.
