NORTH FORSYTH -- Work on a north Forsyth park is being slowed down due to some wet conditions.
At a work session on Tuesday, Forsyth County commissioners voted unanimously to approve a change order worth $74,951.34 with Tri Scapes Inc., for work at Eagles Beak Park in northwest Forsyth. The change was needed due to wet soil in the construction area.
“The soils in that area … they’re what we would normally call just bottom soil; it’s mushy, [and] when they get wet they get even worse,” Deputy County Manager Tim Merritt said. “The time between the original geotechnical work and the work they’re out there doing now, it’s gotten a lot wetter, so originally the plan for the foundation work was not adequate, [and] we needed to come in and augment it and improve it, and that is what we’re proposing.”
Merritt said the plan was approved by the county’s road engineering department but that the county’s geotechnical engineer felt it may or may not work and did not change his original recommendation.
That means if the area does not pass compaction testing, the county will not receive a one-year warranty on paving done there.
The other option would have been $140,000, though that cost is higher than the approved change order and an additional potential $30,000-$40,000 if repaving would be necessary, for a maximum of about $115,000.
Work will include adding geogrid, a material to reinforce soils, and soil.
Park constriction began in November with an estimated cost of about $1.4 million. The park was paid for with a parks, recreation and green space bond and SPLOST VI funding.
The park will be a 230-acre passive park that will feature nature trails, parking and restroom facilities and a canoe and kayak launch to the Etowah River.
Forsyth County purchased the park in 2009 using bond funds and discussed a variety of uses, including an archery range and BMX course, which were eventually dropped as they are not passive amenities.
The park has been used as a field for model aviators, though commissioners decided in November 2013 to approve a settlement that terminated a lease with the group and prevented future boards from reversing the decision.
The park is expected to have a quick turnaround for construction and to open early next year.
