Healdsburg awards Giorgi Park Phase II improvement contract

 Fedco Construction of Santa Rosa was awarded a $119,900 contract for Phase II of improvements at Healdsburg's --also including the and infrastructure along the adjacent .

Healdsburg City Council on Monday night approved the contract award, the lowest of three bids submitted to the city, said Matthew Thompson of the

Thompson said the Fedco contract would include renovating, restriping and installing new lighting at the tennis courts at Giogi Park, as well as constructing disabled-access restrooms at Recreation Park grandstands and a series of sewer, water, fencing and paving improvements at the Boys and Girls Club.

"Work will start in early June," Thompson said. "It's a 100-day job."

Healdsburg Mayor Tom Chambers said the Recreation Park-Giorgi Park complex was a special part of the city.

"When you think about the use of public funds, I don't think you could find a better place to put them than this," Chambers said. "To have an old-fashioned ball field like Rec Park that people can go to for family fun is a real treat."

Councilman Steve Babb agreed.

"I really like the development of this park and what I see happening there," Babb said.

Thompson said the Fedco contract was part of the total Phase II cost, estimated at $881,000. Of that total, $270,000 would be covered by a Sonoma County Open Space District allocation, just over and the rest from the city's

In response to questions from councilmembers about whether any of the Fedco subcontractors would be local to Healdsburg, Thompson said at least two -- Crabtree Land Surveying Inc. and Denny's Electric Inc. -- were local.  He said Fedco has previously done work for the city and was well-known in the area.