City of Morganton reopens another Greenway section, provides updates on parks

Another Section of the Catawba River Greenway is now open and the Morganton City Council approved two new contracts that will push park projects forward to repair from damages caused by Hurricane Helene.

The newly opened section of the greenway stretches from Silver Creek Bridge near the Catawba River Soccer Complex to the River Village Shopping Center. People can walk through the parking lot at River Village to continue to the other side of the greenway, while the boardwalk is still closed off for replacement.

The boardwalk replacement project is in the final stages of design. Once it’s completed, the city will get a bid out for construction. Director of Parks and Recreation Bryan Fish said that he’s hoping the boardwalk will be completed by next summer.

MAINTENANCE BUILDING

As for Catawba Meadows Park, the council voted to award an engineering contract for the new recreation maintenance building. The park’s two maintenance buildings, one used for storage and sat near the river, and one adjacent to the concession area, were both either damaged or wiped away entirely. The new building will take the place of both.

The contract was awarded to Domokur & Associates, PLLC of Brevard in an amount not to exceed $135,000.

CATAWBA MEADOWS/SOCCER COMPLEX

For the restoration of Catawba Meadows Park and the Catawba River Soccer Complex, action to award engineering services was postponed. The meeting went into recess and will come back into discussion on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 8:15 a.m.

“It is a large project and in a very big scope of work,” City Manager Sally Sandy said.

After sending out requests for qualifications, Sandy said staff received 14 proposals from engineering firms. Of those, six were selected and interviewed by a staff committee, and then ranked based on which would provide the best services. Sandy said staff are still in the negotiating process.

“Again, it is a gigantic scope and pretty important for us, and we want to make sure it’s right,” Sandy said.

SHUEY PARK

The city council also awarded a contract for the purchase of equipment for the Shuey Park Project, which Sandy said is the only location that has been fully funded from FEMA, flood insurance, and property and liability insurance. The city is purchasing the equipment through a purchasing co-op from Revels Turf and Tractor LLC for an amount that does not exceed $259,048.27.

According to Fish, renovations have begun on the Legion concession building and the maintenance storage building. Fish said that 208 kids are participating in flag football and soccer season this year. Last year, there were 268, but because all games are being played at Shuey and on Legion field, Fish said they had to accept a smaller number of athletes this year.