Looking at the new North Albany Park restroom over the construction fencing on Monday evening, Aug. 19, 2024.
Chances are the summer will be over before Benton County’s restroom project in North Albany Park is complete.
The county opened bids for the restroom project on Feb. 7 and then awarded the construction contract to the low bidder, Allen & Laporte, of Albany, for $349,800.
But complications with the location of the planned building held up the start of construction. The design had the building’s concrete footings intruding slightly on a City of Albany sewer easement, and that held up the approval of a building permit for several weeks.
How was the situation resolved?
“The building was shifted just enough to get the entire building out of the easement, which resolved the encroachment issue,” said Aaron Hiemstra, engineering manager in Albany Public Works.
On Monday night I stopped at the park on a bike ride to see how the construction was coming along.
The restroom building had walls and a metal roof. It still needed siding and internal fixtures, as far as I could tell.
The concrete work on the ground looked finished. There were two ADA-compliant parking spaces and a concrete path suitable for wheelchairs to the building.
Except for the addition in recent years of a bark chip-covered perimeter trail, the rest of this county park in North Albany remains unchanged. Over the past few years many drought-damaged Douglas firs were removed, and valley pines were planted in their stead.
The county has plans for additional changes, but they have not yet been scheduled, let alone begun. (hh)
Parking spaces and walkways near the new restroom building have been finished.
Hasso,
thank you for the information.
I recently moved to Albany and was not aware of the improvements at this park.
Will have to check it out soon.
Thomas.
The playground is so old! With all the new homes in north Albany, an update is overdue! I called the parks department two years ago and was told an upgrade is on the schedule. My grandkids will be in high school before that happens!!
I too have talked with the Benton Country Parks Department about this. I was told that until the restrooms were ADA compliant they could not do any any other improvements. I feel this park is the “ugly stepchild” of Benton County – while it’s in the Albany city limits it’s funding comes from Benton County.
Always enjoy this park with the dog. Lot’s of space. Thanks for keeping the community updated.
Thank goodness the problem with “easement resolved the encroachment issue!” (Sarcasm)