Mt. Prospect park board to look at golf work bids

The Mount Prospect Park District opened bids this week for the first phase of an ambitious plan to renovate the Mount Prospect Golf Course, but the park board isn't likely to take action on the bids until March.

The first phase of the renovation plan includes the construction of a new maintenance building on the course. Park district officials say the existing building, which will be demolished, is outdated and in poor condition.

The construction manager for the project - Mount Prospect-based Nicholas & Associates Inc. - has estimated that this phase will cost a little more than $1.5 million.

Greg Kuhs, executive director of the park district, said Thursday the bids for Phase 1 will be presented to the park board at its Feb. 26 meeting.

"I don't expect the board to take action until our March 19 meeting, though," Kuhs said. "The commissioners said they wanted more time to evaluate costs."

The second phase of the project consists of renovations to the golf course itself. Among the improvements being considered are new irrigation and drainage systems and various changes to the individual holes.

Kuhs said the district will probably start soliciting bids for Phase II in late March or early April. The cost for this phase has been estimated at roughly $6 million.

The renovation work could begin as early as June or July, but Kuhs said the timeline is tentative. Officials believe the renovations will take about a year to complete, depending on weather conditions.

The golf course will be shut down during this phase. Kuhs said the district is talking to nearby golf courses in an effort to secure cheaper rates for Mount Prospect golfers during the renovation.

Closing the course "is an inconvenience, but it doesn't make sense to keep it open while construction is under way," he said.