North Platte City Council approves architect for recreation related projects

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) - The North Platte City Council was back in session Tuesday evening. Local officials were particularly interested in the city’s updates and improvements at North Platte’s Cody Pool and the North Platte Recreation Center.

“The Rec. Center committee has recommended that we negotiate with RDG Planning and Design,” said North Platte Mayor Brandon Kelliher. “The group is a partnership with some of our local architects. In designing both the Rec. Center and Cody Pool Project, we’re able to gain some efficiencies by having the same firm work on both projects. We’re excited to take the recommendation to the council.”

Below is a press release from the City of North Platte in regard to the agreement with RDG.

The City of North Platte is pleased to announce that a key part of the process of updating the North Platte Recreation Center and Cody Pool is complete. After a thorough review and assessment of proposals, the North Platte City Council announced on Tuesday, March 21, that RDG Planning & Design will lead the remodel and expansion of the North Platte Recreation Center and Cody Pool improvements.

RDG brings a wealth of expertise to the project, boasting 30 years of experience in the planning and design of sports and recreational facilities across the region, including facilities in Kearney and Omaha. RDG recognizes the integral part that local architects and contractors play and has assembled a project team with numerous North Platte businesses and connections.

“As the City reviewed the outstanding candidates that proposed to undertake this project, we were committed to making a decision that focused on three criteria,” said Mayor Brandon Kelliher, City of North Platte. “First, we wanted to make the wisest use of funds. Next, we wanted to work with a firm that is a leader in sports and recreational facilities. Lastly, we wanted to ensure that our outstanding local businesses were utilized during the design and construction process. RDG has demonstrated that their vision and priorities for the execution of this project align with these criteria.”

RDG is partnering with local architects and contractors on the project team. North Platte Architects, Steele’s Roofing & Construction, T.C. Engineering, Inc., and Wayne Dowhower Construction, Inc., are all on the project team, in addition to:

· Sampson Construction for cost estimating

· Engineering Technologies, Inc. (ETI) for mechanical and electrical engineering

· Performance Engineering for structural engineering

· Aquatic Design Consultants, Inc., for swimming pool consulting

Two of ETI’s engineers assigned to the project are North Platte natives.

The design process will continue through early 2024, with anticipated construction set to begin in early Q2 of 2024.

The process of accepting bids for the project began in January of 2023 after North Platte voters approved a temporary half-cent sales tax increase in November of 2022. The additional sales tax will go into effect this Spring, and help raise $ 52.5 million to make improvements at the Recreation Center, and Cody Pool, as well as relocate the Skate Park.

Also at the meeting, the council approved re-working a few departments within the city.

“The city manager and I have meant on this issue several times,” said Kelliher. “We’ve decided to try and establish some efficiencies in how departments are organized. To do that we’ve established really what are Parks and Rec. Department. And we’ve established an official Public Service Department that will handle streets, water, sewer, and that sort of thing. This is a method of making us more comparable with other communities, because most communities across Nebraska, as well as other states, are organized in a similar manner.”

The meeting was live-streamed on the City of North Platte’s YouTube page.

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