The City of New Port Richey’s Frances Avenue Park is a 6.63 acre neighborhood park located near the southeastern portion of the City between the Pithlachascotee “Cotee” River and Louisiana Avenue. The park serves the needs of residents in nearby neighborhoods, as well as City-wide residents, and provides a variety of things to do including a playground, three picnic shelters, basketball, a multi-purpose field, and access to the Cotee River with a kayak launch. The park also contains a restroom facility and a parking lot.
During the preparation of the our City’s 2017 Parks and Recreation Master Plan, it was discovered that the park’s three picnic shelters were nearing the end of their life cycle and that improvements or replacements would need to be made to these structures in the near future. Therefore, in 2020 the City applied for and an Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant through the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection in the amount of $83,638 to help fund the costs of improvements to Frances Avenue Park and more specifically to the replacement of the picnic shelters. The grant was successful and is expected to cover costs associated with the improvements to the shelters on site. The remaining elements of the project include updating walkways and landscape improvements.
On December 10, 2022, ITB22-004, Frances Avenue Park Improvements Project was released and the City received proposals from two (2) construction contractors. The proposals were reviewed by Ayres Associates and city staff. Based on the review it was determined that the lowest bidder, SC Signature Corp, whom has a positive reputation with completing previous work with the City, should be awarded the bid.