The La Center City Council voted Wednesday, Feb. 25, to approve a contract for fencing at the new pickleball courts in Heritage Park, clearing the final hurdle before the project’s anticipated June completion.
The council unanimously authorized the mayor to sign a contract with ECO Fencing and Decking, not to exceed $16,208.55. The low bid came in at that price after the city received eight submissions through a request-for-bids process.
Public Works and Community Development Director Tracy Coleman told council members the city had initially planned to reuse fencing from the delayed Fourth Street widening project. With that timeline uncertain, staff instead sought bids to complete the entire fencing scope now.
“Because of the fact that the project has been delayed, and we're not sure when we're going to be able to get the fencing, I went ahead and put the fencing bid out to include all of the fencing for the sports courts up at Heritage Park,” Coleman said.
Coleman said the original 2026 budget included $8,500 for posts, gates, and related components, with the assumption that the chain-link screen would be repurposed from Fourth Street. The additional roughly $7,700 would cover the cost of the fencing material.
“So, you have a choice tonight to see if you want to move forward and authorize approval of the full contract to go ahead and have the sport court fencing completed by June, or if you want to say, ‘We're gonna wait and see when the 4th Street project starts, and then we'll go ahead and use the fencing then,’ that's fine too. We could do it either way,” Coleman said.
She also cautioned that waiting could increase costs.
“If we do it that route, then just be aware that there would probably be a remobilization fee, and material costs might be increased at the time that we'd be allowed to use that,” Coleman said.
Coleman noted that park impact fees could cover the additional expense if the council opted to move forward now, and that any reused fencing could later be installed at other park locations.
The council chose to proceed with the full contract. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
According to Coleman, irrigation has already been installed at the site, landscaping is underway, and asphalt and striping are complete. Leveling work remains, and landscaping will surround the courts to help buffer sound. At this point, staff believes the fencing contract is the last action item needed from council for the project. The courts remain on track for completion by June.
