LAWTON – A change order shaved $705,000 off the price ta g for the Elmer Thomas Park aquatic center.
The City Council on Sept. 10 approved a $19.9 million con tract with Miller-Tippens Construction of Oklahoma City, the lone bidder, for construction of a 42,200 squa refoot aquatic center featuring a wide range of amenities, including a recreational pool, diving boards, slides, swim lanes and a lazy river.
At the direction of the council, city staff and the architect met with the contractor to “identify potential cost savings within the project plans.”
Project Manager Scott Vaughn, of Chisholm Trail Consulting, said the change order includes removal of all stabilization, curb and gutter, and paving at all areas of the site, plus changes to the concession a rea in the 6,400-square-foot building that will house restrooms, concessions, an office, and equipment spaces.
Paving will be performed under a separate contract, city off icials reported.
Other potential changes include elimination of air conditioning in the restrooms/changing rooms. In addition, altering the building pad requirements based on existing soil conditions might save $60,000, Vaughn indicated.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the facility was held Sept. 16. The goal of city off icials is to have the aquatic center completed in time for the 2025 Freedom Festival, Council George Gill said.