Phase Two Work at Lake Sara Beach Awarded

Phase Two of the recreational project at Pearson Point Park on Lake Sara will soon be underway.

Effingham Water Authority trustees Tuesday awarded the bid for Phase Two to L.J. Swingler Construction of Teutopolis. The bid was $514,440. 

A large portion of the project cost will be funded by an OSLAD grant from the State. Local matching funds will cover the remainder of the project cost.

Included in Phase Two will be pickleball courts, a hiking trail, an exercise course, and a challenge course similar to American Ninja Warriors. 

The bid came in over the engineer's estimate of $477,536, but that estimate is two years old and the consensus was that the Swingler bid was very competitive.

Tom Ryan of the Parks and Rec Committee for Lake Sara Forever said that work could begin soon and should be completed by the end of September. 

This is the second consecutive OSLAD grant awarded to the project. Board members heard the consecutive awards is not something that typically happens.

The total project cost is estimated at $841,041.10, against a projected cost of $800,000, again based on a bid that is two years old.

Water Authority trustees heard from Lake Superintendent Mike Dirks that the beach at Lake Sara officially opens on Memorial Day, but Dirks said there have been some early swimmers at the beach.