September 23, 2021
RE: Soap Lake Smokiam Park Basketball Court Progress Update
On behalf of the Soap Lake Parks and Rec Committee, and the City of Soap Lake, I want to thank you for answering the request to support our efforts with a monetary donation to build a full size basketball court in our Smokiam Park. We realize time has slipped away and the Committee feels an update or process report is due to those that stepped forward with financial support as well as those within the community.
We have mentioned the bulk of the funding is coming from a grant from the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). The volunteer Parks and Recreation Committee and the City of Soap Lake have put years of effort into securing this grant. During the fund-raising period you sent a monetary donation to either the City of Soap Lake or the Columbia Basin Foundation. Those donations are held in funds titled the Soap Lake Recreation Development Fund. Those funds will be depleted as invoices from the construction of the Smokiam basketball court come into the City Administrator.
The initial work for the basketball court started this last spring. We have aligned with the guidance of the grant RCO papers on compliance issues with state, federal, and local regulations. The more exciting piece to the process, construction, is going to be put off until 2022. Plans and budget estimates are 95% complete and could go out to bid shortly. However, the estimated cost is really tight with the budget, and professional experience believes the City will receive better bid pricing if we go out to bid later this year and shoot for spring 2022 construction, rather than push for this fall. The RCO grant papers allows for this flexibility, and we are fortunate to be ahead of their schedule to be able to do this.
Thanks again for your interest in improvements to our parks and for your monetary donation.
Sincerely,
Soap Lake Parks Committee Volunteer