City of Lebanon seeking bids for initial phase of Optimist Park improvements

The City of Lebanon is soliciting bids for the initial round of improvements to Louser Memorial Park Southwest, also known as Optimist Park.

The deadline to submit bids is May 9, and the city plans to award the contract to the successful bidder by July 8.

Phase 1 will include reconstructing existing tennis courts and adding pickleball courts. The city is also requesting proposals for three optional add-ons: resurfacing existing basketball courts, adding a wind screen to the pickleball courts, and updating existing shuffleboard courts.

Phase 1 will not include a much-anticipated splash pad intended to partly fill the void left by the closing of the city’s Coleman Memorial Park swimming pool.

The Optimist Park project has been planned since 2022, and will be jointly administered by the city and the Lebanon Valley Community Tennis Association which, according to Mayor Sherry Capello, has “been involved in the entire design process and are contributing $10,000 towards the project.”

The estimated cost of Phase 1 is $328,361, the mayor said. In addition to the tennis association’s contribution, the city has so far received a $110,630 Pennsylvania Local Share Access Grant and $25,000 in American Rescue Plan funds.

Capello said in an email that she anticipates “completion in the Fall, however, we will not have an accurate timeline until we award the contract.”

Her email noted that the city has “also been working with the US Tennis Assoc. for funding.  We cannot formally apply until we tabulate our bid tabulation, however, we have received approval of our plans and feel pretty confident that they will provide additional funds towards the project. Awards can be up to $20,000 per tennis court and we will have 3- eligible tennis courts (potential of $60,000).”