Big Sky dog park goes to bid
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Following board approval last week, Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District is accepting bids for the construction of its off-leash dog run at Big Sky Park.

The district's preliminary budget for fiscal year 2008-09 includes $500,000 for the construction of the 3-acre facility.

The bids and an update on the project's budget will be presented to the district's board of directors in September, when the low bid is awarded.

At its July 3 meeting, the board authorized the construction of the dog park parking lot to Oxnard-based Toro General Engineering Contractors.

The bid amount was $195,855, but the total allocation for the parking lot- including a 10 percent contingency in case of modifications or cost overruns- is $215,440.

According to Ed Hayduk, the district's assistant general manager, construction on the lot is scheduled to begin next week and is expected to be completed in September.

Toro General Engineering is currently under contract to Shea Homes to complete an access road for the dog park.

Design plans for landscaping, fencing, access gates, park furniture, and drainage and irrigation have been completed by the district.

Construction of the actual dog park will begin once the parking lot is completed.

"The site looks spectacular," Hayduk said. "It's all been graded. It's going to be a really nice facility. It's a little remote, which is nice, it's picturesque and it has a panorama of the canyons around it."

The park is expected to open in February 2009.

For more information, visit www.rsrpd.org.