Approved cleanup efforts may allow swimming this summer — if work is done in time

Winnetka park commissioners granted the necessary approval for the park district to move forward with extensive cleanup procedures of both Elder and Centennial beaches.

The board approved on June 26 a bid from the Chicago-based company Misfits Construction at a cost of $138,750 for the cleanup work at both beaches as well as the removal of a damaged section of the existing Elder Lane pier.

During the Park Board’s May meeting, Nazzal told commissioners that the district went out to bid on the cleanup work but did not receive any formal submissions from contractors, The Record reported.

District staffers believe the lack of bids was in large part due to a timeline restriction the park district placed on the project, Nazzal noted, adding that officials had prioritized getting the work done this summer. The park reissued the bid for the project in mid-June and received the bid from Misfits.

The work is scheduled to be completed between July 21 through Aug. 1, Costa Kutulas, director of parks and maintenance told the board. An alternate timeline of Oct. 13-24 is set as a backup plan.

Completing the work in July could allow for the potential reopening of some swimming at Elder, Kutulas said during the meeting, adding that doing the work next month would also avoid potential parking rental conflicts with New Trier students.

To move forward with the project, the district also struck an agreement with property owner Justin Ishbia, who owns the property at 261 Sheridan Road, which splits Centennial and Elder parks. The agreement was needed to complete the land-based aspects of the cleanup work as it allows the contractor access across the beach.

Park staff also included a 10% contingency in estimated project costs to cover “any unforeseen issues that may arise during the course of the work.” That contingency brought the not-to-exceed total to $152,625.

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