The Larry G. Crites Memorial Park soon will get a new walking trail.
Festus City Council members voted 6-0 on Aug. 28 to award a $216,800 contract to Jokerst Paving in Festus to build the trail.
The 8-foot-wide, asphalt trail will be constructed in the back of the park, which is located along Old Hwy. A. The trail will be about three-fourths of a mile long and will be built near a small lake and around the back field used for soccer and other activities.
City Administrator Greg Camp said the city will use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to pay for the project.
He said the city chose Jokerst to build the trail because it was the only bidder for the summer street overlay contract the Festus council approved in May.
“Jokerst is looking to start work in the next couple of weeks,” parks director Josh Whaley said after the meeting. “We’re looking to have it open by the end of September.”
Whaley said the new trail will provide a safer barrier between vehicles and pedestrian traffic in the back loop of the park where the road narrows significantly. It also will make it easier for walkers to use existing exercise stations around the park.
“It’s phase one of our plan for walking trails,” Whaley told the council.
Also at the meeting, the council voted 6-0 to approve Whaley’s request for the purchase of four new fountains for Al Brown Lake in Crites Park. The city will pay The Pond Guys, an online company, a total of $9,200 for the fountains, which will provide aeration for the lake.
The Pond Guys submitted the lowest of three bids for the fountains, Whaley said.
Ward 1 Councilman Jim Collier and Ward 4 Councilman Jim Tinnin were absent from the meeting.