Promenade Hill Update

During the Common Council meeting on Tuesday, Alderman Malachi Walker (Fourth Ward) wanted to know if there would be gym equipment at Promenade Hill, mentioning in particular "pullup bars, pushup bars, and dip bars." He said, with gyms closed owing to COVID-19, and some people not being able to afford gyms, it was important to provide this equipment in a public park. In asking about this, he seemed to be following up on a suggestion made back in October by Alderman Tiffany Garriga (Second Ward) that the plans for Promenade Hill should include exercise equipment.

In responding to the question about Promenade Hill and the status of the project, Mayor Kamal Johnson told the Council the project was "out to bid for construction." The bid documents---the bid drawings and the project manual--are now available on the City of Hudson website. The scope of work in described in this way:

The creation of universal access to the upper promenade will entail the removal of walls and pavements from a 1977 urban renewal project (most of the removal by the City of Hudson) and the creation of both a new accessible route and new set of stairs leading to an existing opening in a historic stone wall that provides access to the upper promenade. Selective demolition will be performed by the City of Hudson Department of Public Works immediately prior to the mobilization of the chosen site contractor.

The scope of work includes: Construction fencing, erosion control, tree pruning and tree protection, reinforced cast in place concrete foundations, walls and ADA compliant ramps, decorative handrails, stone masonry, stone pavement, lighting (wiring by National Grid), installation of a new drinking fountain and ground hydrants, earthwork, and landscape plantings. The project also includes the installation of a spray shower. Improvements to the safety surface and seating in an existing play area at the northern end of the site are included in the project as add [sic] alternate bid item.

Johnson commented that it had been necessary to "cut costs on a few things." He suggested this was accomplished by having DPW do more of the work. From a cursory look at the bid documents, it doesn't appear that the cost cutting involved compromising the quality of the materials to be used. Johnson indicated they were "hoping to break ground in the next few weeks."

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