Council Report

City of Mesa — City Council (2026-06-08)

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City Council Report 
 
Date:  
June 8, 2026 
To: 
 
City Council 
Through: 
Marc Heirshberg, Assistant City Manager 
From:  
Lance Webb, City Engineer 
Marc Ahlstrom, Assistant City Engineer 
 
Subject: 
Aripine Park and Whitman Park Playground Renovation 
 
 
City Project No. CP1182 & LF0596 
 
 
HUD Project No.  Aripine IDIS-#964; Whitman IDIS-#940 
Council Districts 4 and 1 
 
 
Purpose and Recommendation 
 
The purpose of this report is to provide information to Council concerning the results of 
the bids received for the Aripine Park and Whitman Park Playground Renovation project 
(See Exhibit “A” for project locations).   
 
Staff recommends that Council award a contract for this project to the second lowest 
responsible bidder, Valley Rain Construction Corp, in the amount of $1,271,188.26, and 
authorize a change order allowance in the amount of $127,118.83 (10%). 
 
Background 
 
The City received authorization for federal funding through the Community Development 
Block Grant Program (CDBG) administered by United States Department of Housing and 
Urban Development (HUD). The CDBG program provides funding for acquisition, 
construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and/or installation of public improvements or 
facilities, including but not limited to playgrounds. The City of Mesa Housing and 
Community Development Department coordinated with the Parks, Recreation and 
Community Facilities Department to modernize Whitman Park and Aripine Park; each 
park serves a disadvantaged area.   
 
The playground equipment at Whitman Park has reached the end of its lifecycle and is 
due for replacement. Additionally, replacement parts are no longer being manufactured 
and do not meet current safety requirements.  Aripine Park currently has no playground 
equipment but does have an area designated for new playground equipment.  This project 
was approved for the current federal CDBG cycle for fiscal year 2025/26.

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Discussion 
 
In February 2026, Staff received bids from four (4) potential contractors to complete the 
park renovations.  Building Development Professionals LLC (BDP) was the apparent low 
bidder and was awarded the contract by Council on April 6, 2026.  Subsequent to this 
Council award, staff determined that BDP had not complied with all federal requirements 
for award of the contract and was determined to be non-responsive as a bidder.  
Therefore, Staff recommends selection of the new responsive, responsible bidder, Valley 
Rain Construction Corp.   
 
This project will furnish and install new playground equipment, shade structures, site 
amenities, concrete ramps and new playground surfacing at these parks.  Sidewalk 
ramps, new engineered wood fiber, and new poured-in-place seamless rubber play 
surfacing will improve safety and make the playgrounds more accessible.  Additional 
amenities to be installed include benches, new lighting, and trash receptacles.  
 
Community Impact – During construction, the project will restrict access to the existing 
playground. A portion of available parking stalls, park area, or adjacent roadways may be 
used for construction staging or site access.  Traffic and pedestrian control measures will 
be maintained as required to ensure safety for the public.    
 
Once underway, construction of this project is anticipated to last approximately 10 
months. 
 
Alternatives 
 
An alternative to this project would be not to construct these improvements. This is not 
recommended because the CDBG Grant has already been awarded to the City of Mesa.  
Furthermore, existing playground equipment would not be useable in the foreseeable 
future because replacement parts may not be readily available.  
 
Fiscal Impact 
 
The total authorized amount recommended for this project is $1,398,307.09 based upon 
the second lowest responsible bid of $1,271,188.26 by Valley Rain Construction Corp, 
plus an additional $127,118.83 (10%) as a change order allowance.  This change order 
allowance will only be utilized for approved change orders.   
 
This project is funded by a federal CDBG grant through the Housing and Community 
Development Department.   
 
Coordinated With 
 
Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities and the Housing and Community 
Development Departments both concur with this recommendation.

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CITY OF MESA 
MESA, ARIZONA 
 
Aripine Park & Whitman Park Playground Renovation 
 
City Project No. CP1182 & LF0596 
Hud Project No.  Aripine IDIS-#964; Whitman IDIS-#940 
 
Tabulation of Bids Received, Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 1:30PM 
 
 
ENGINEER’S ESTIMATE 
$1,270,000 
 
1. Valley Rain Construction                                              $1,271,188.26 
 
2. Lincoln Constructors 
$1,291,927.00 
 
3. Action Direct LLC DBA Redpoint Contracting 
$1,334,598.00