Roseburg Council to Consider $289,020 Stewart Park Master Plan Contract

The Roseburg City Council will consider a contract Monday to update the Stewart Park Master Plan, a document intended to guide improvements to the regional park and adjoining areas for approximately 20 years.

City staff recommends hiring Cameron McCarthy for a price not to exceed $289,020. The proposed work includes Stewart Park, Gaddis Park, trail connections, and the Umpqua Greenway between Gaddis Park and downtown.

Stewart Park’s existing master plan is more than 25 years old. Under the proposed contract, the consultant would assess existing conditions, seek input from the public and stakeholders, develop alternative concepts, prepare planning-level cost estimates, and produce an updated plan. The planning work is expected to take about a year, with completion anticipated in fall 2027.

The city received four proposals. A four-member staff committee gave Cameron McCarthy the highest average score, 114 out of 125. The Parks Commission unanimously recommended awarding the contract at its Sept. 2 meeting, according to the agenda packet.

The proposed price consists of $224,480 for the base work, $54,890 for the Gaddis Park and related connections, and $9,650 for the Umpqua Greenway. At its Sept. 14 meeting, Council directed staff to include the Greenway in the scope.

The current city budget includes $150,000 for the master plan. Staff says The Ford Family Foundation has provided a letter committing $125,000, and another $14,020 could come from the Park Improvement Fund’s reserves. Council would need to approve a supplemental budget to make the full funding available.

Council is being asked to authorize both the consultant contract and a grant agreement with the foundation. The contract would pay for planning, rather than construction of the improvements the future plan may propose.