A park on Adrian's Island is roughly planned to be ready when the Bicentennial Bridge is complete in October, with more work to be done.
The Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission approved a change Tuesday to the contract with Phillips Hardy Inc. for park construction.
Phillips Hardy Inc. is constructing the Bicentennial Bridge, which will stretch from the state Capitol grounds to Adrian's Island.
Parks Director Todd Spalding said it was best to work with Phillips Hardy for the park as well since the company already has the proper permits in place and has been working with the Union Pacific railroad.
The commission approved a $442,269 contract change for Phillips Hardy to construct the basics of the park.
Spalding said this doesn't include amenities such as bathrooms, benches, a pavilion and hammock area. However, it will set up groundwork, construct sidewalks and trails, and landscaping with native plants and flowers. It will also lay the concrete for the life-sized chess board in the park plan.
The contract covers seating, walls and a sign at the foot of the bridge that will tell the history of the Adrian family and the island. Spalding said the $2,000 for that sign will be reimbursed by the family.
"That is a park," Spalding said. "It's not a full-fledged thing, but a park."
Over the years, Spalding said, the commission has set aside around $691,000 from the department's dedicated sales tax for the park.
This contract will leave around $248,731 for the amenities to be added to the park.
Besides construction of the restroom, Spalding said, the park's remaining amenities should be able to go over the bridge once it is finished.
The change order must go through the Jefferson City Council to be added to the contract.