Plans to install artificial turf at the Riverside Park football field moved forward Monday evening as USD 257 board members approved a $1.2 million bid for the project, selecting Double E Construction of Gas.
Chad Marlow, a representative with DCS Services, presented the bid review to the board, outlining proposals from seven companies for the project and explaining the scope of the work.
DCS Services is a Wichita-based firm that provides construction management and project oversight services for public entities, including school districts.
The company assists with tasks such as preparing bid documents, coordinating with engineers and contractors, evaluating proposals and overseeing project implementation.
The turf project stems from earlier planning tied to improvements at the Riverside athletic complex, though the scope was later reduced to focus solely on the football field.
“Late last year, DCS was asked to get involved to address the football field,” Marlow said, explaining that the company worked with Mammoth Sports Construction, which had been involved in earlier planning for the complex.
THE WORK will involve excavating the existing field surface and rebuilding the base before installing the turf system. The project also includes drainage improvements designed to help move water off the field while connecting to the park’s existing stormwater infrastructure.
“We’re going to excavate about six to nine inches of soil, build up six inches of rock on top of that, and then your final turf,” said Taylor Durr, president of DCS Services.
A new perimeter drainage system will tie into the existing stormwater pipe beneath the levee, and a six-by-six concrete basin will be installed to house the field’s pump system and allow easier maintenance access.
Seven companies submitted bids for the project, all of which were considered qualified installers. Durr said the district had several viable options to consider.
The bids ranged from about $1.2 million to $1.8 million. Double E Construction submitted the lowest bid at $1,203,526.86, followed by Mid-America at $1,260,214.71 and Mammoth Sports Construction at $1,265,160.09. Other bids included Hellas at $1,307,602.73, FieldTurf at $1,356,286.57, Geo Surfaces at $1,479,251.29, Forever Lawn at $1,488,872.88 and Geo Surfaces–Pivot at $1,802,266.10.
THE DOUBLE E proposal includes installation of a two-inch, 48-ounce blend turf system with rubber and sand infill along with a stabilized subgrade and stone base. The bid also includes moving the existing scoreboard and goal posts, drainage improvements, electrical work and field graphics.
Marlow said raising the scoreboard will require different steel I-beams to mount it. Both goal posts will also be relocated to align with the new field.
The warranty includes one year of coverage on the base construction and eight years on the turf material and installation.
Double E also included annual maintenance for eight years, with field evaluations, seam repairs and weekly grooming during football and soccer seasons. The company will also provide turf maintenance equipment for the district and the field will undergo GMAX testing, which measures how much impact force is absorbed by the turf surface.
Board members discussed several factors while comparing bids, including durability, maintenance needs and long-term costs. Marlow said most turf systems in the industry carry similar warranties.
