Plans for updates at Pioneer Park in Mooresville, Indiana, are undergoing revisions after initial cost estimates for the project exceeded $9 million. During a Mooresville Park Board meeting on May 13th, park superintendent Phil Cornelius outlined the adjustments being made to the proposed improvements.
Cornelius explained that the project began with a build-operate-transfer (BOT) process, bringing in Meyer Najem as the construction firm to provide concrete pricing. He indicated that the initial cost projection was higher than anticipated, which was somewhat expected. “We have now refined that process down to a more conservative number,” Cornelius stated. “It’s still a little over our scale of what we believed, but we think with a little more fine-toothed combs and sharpen our pencils and pens, we can get to the number that is equitable for both.”
One significant change involves stormwater management. Original plans required two separate stormwater systems. However, by reconfiguring the layout of new structures, the updated plan now only necessitates a single system. Another notable adjustment is the relocation of the proposed pickleball courts and the removal of the planned basketball courts from the immediate renovation scope. “We currently already have two basketball courts in this park,” Cornelius pointed out. “So we saw that as a system that could be added later, or in the future, but our primary focus would be pickleball.”
The pickleball courts are now slated to be closer to the park’s existing maintenance building. Further cost-saving measures include reducing the amount of proposed parking and shifting the future maintenance facility to the north along County Line Road.
Map of Pioneer Park in Mooresville Indiana renovation plan showing adjusted layout for cost savings
Park board member Brent Callahan expressed his desire to activate the board’s building committee to thoroughly review the revised plans, citing concerns about the initial high estimate. Cornelius confirmed the initial estimate exceeded $9 million but noted, “We have now scaled that closer to $6 (million).” He emphasized that approximately $3 million in reductions had already been achieved, primarily in ground infrastructure costs.
Callahan suggested the building committee evaluate whether to proceed with the BOT approach or to consider undertaking certain project components separately. He requested a survey with a topographical map and detailed building specifications for the committee’s review. “I’m having trouble at the present time imagining that they can still come down far enough to meet our existing funding,” Callahan admitted.
Cornelius clarified that the parks department initially estimated the project at around $5 million and that the current revised estimate is approximately $1.5 million above that figure. Board member Danny Shaw inquired about the availability of contingency funds should further cost reductions prove unfeasible.
“We’re actively seeking all grant applications,” Cornelius responded. “I filled out an application, actually, this evening that would bring a few hundred thousand dollars into the project, if awarded.”
Ultimately, the board unanimously approved the activation of its building committee to review the project and the updated cost estimate for the Pioneer Park renovations.
