Two St. Louis firms hired for Cape park design

Two St. Louis-based firms have been hired to provide planning, engineering and landscaping design services for Cape Girardeau's parks system, including major projects at Capaha Park and the Cape LaCroix Trail.

At its Monday night meeting, the Cape Girardeau City Council unanimously authorized five-year general services contracts for Planning Design Studio LLC and SWT Design Inc., companies that will help map out $350,000 in improvements at Capaha Park and $70,000 for identified trail projects.

"They both are highly recommended in landscape architecture and park design," said Julia Thompson, director of the city's Parks and Recreation Department.

The firms' services are needed, Thompson said, for many of the remaining park projects from money that has come from the half-cent parks and stormwater sales tax that was approved by voters in April 2008.

When the city submitted a request for proposals, it received 33 submissions from companies interested in working with the city, Thompson said. That number was whittled down to 10 and these two were decided upon.

Council member Mark Lanzotti questioned why there was a need for two such firms. Thompson said each firm has specialties that complement the other.

"With two, we believe we'll get the best of both worlds for our future parks designs," she said.

The price and which project will go to which firm will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis, she said.

The city is looking at Capaha Park, especially since the antiquated pool has been removed. The city is studying the park's strengths and weaknesses and will develop a plan that takes maintenance, programming, lighting and the lagoon into account, she said. She hopes to present conceptual plans to the council in three to six months, she said.

"From a design standpoint, how can we make Capaha Park more usable, attractive as our central park?" Thompson said.

Cape LaCroix Trail will also be evaluated, she said. At 6 feet wide, the four-mile trail needs to be wider, possibly up to 10 feet, she said. It also could stand some signage, bathrooms and other amenities.

Jim Walterman of SWT Design attended the council's study session, noting that his company has worked on several projects in Cape Girardeau, including for SoutheastHEALTH, Capaha Bank as well as the city's new Broadway corridor project.

Andrew Franke, the co-founder of Planning Design Studio, acknowledged having two firms is a "little unusual." But he likened the arrangement to football, with offense and defense "both trying to accomplish the same goal."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

401 Independence, Cape Girardeau, MO