Hardy Park Field House Redo: $437,114

The 2015 redo of the Hardy Park Field House cost DC taxpayers $437,114, with the most expensive line item a $45,160 restroom renovation.

The “Hardy Rec Center Stabilization” project contract, overseen by the DC Department of General Services, was for $308,714, and had approved changes adding $128,399, according to documents provided at the request of The Hoe.org. (This article originally was published on The Hoe.org, September 16, 2016.)

The field house at Hardy Park, which received a 2015 renovation costing $437,114. Photo Credit: John A. Bray

The roughly 2,256 square foot, single-story brick building at the playground at Foxhall Road and Q Street northwest consists of a big multi-purpose room, two bathrooms, an office and storage areas.

The contract was the low bid and went to HRGM Corp., according to the department.

ROOM WITH A VIEW: The 2015 Hardy Park Field House redo involved $45,160 for renovation of the restrooms, with an upper west side detail shown here. Photo Credit: John A. Bray

The project, which had a $500,000 budget, has been designated by the department as 100 percent complete, with $62,885 in remaining funds.

It was the remaining money that was to pay for resurfacing of the cracked, potholed, and paint-worn tennis courts, work to have been done by June 21, 2016, according to Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh’s office, which cited DC Department of Parks and Recreation information.

A new target of mid-October for finishing the resurfacing was relayed via a September 1, 2016 communication to Cheh’s office from the general services department.

The agency said it was “presented with some procurement challenges with respect to pricing on this project and thus began reviewing alternatives. Ultimately we will be working with an existing vendor.”

At the basketball court — dedicated to a U.S. Marine who honed his skills on the hoops, played at American University and was killed in action in the war in Vietnam in 1969 – only three of six goals remain standing over the cracked surface where weeds creep in. How might conditions be improved?

The basketball court at Hardy Park is dedicated to Carl Richard Wilson, Jr., a U.S. Marine second lieutenant who honed his skills on the hoops, played at American University and was killed in action in the war in Vietnam in 1969. Photo Credit: John A. Bray

Also included in the field house project was payment of $28,000 for an “unforeseen contingency,” described by general services department officials as “unknown field conditions such as stabilization of the structure behind soffit and plumbing issues.”

Other line items for the project include work related to Americans with Disability Act compliance: $20,808, New Restroom ADA Door/Ramp; $8,804, Concrete Patio & ADA Ramp; $15,600, ADA Sinks; and $12,656, Restroom Doors-ADA.

There was $960 for Asbestos/Hazmat Testing and $20,000 for Abatement & Demolition, $29,312 for New Ceiling System, and $14,449 for Soffit, Bird Netting, Exterior Trim. The least expensive line item was $181 for Janitorial Room Improvement.