Council approves the fourth change order for Aurora Park tennis courts

Newton City Council earlier this month approved the fourth change order for the tennis court project at Aurora Park, which has already gone above $1 million.

The $60,568 change order covers hot mix asphalt overruns due to the larger footprint of the court and an additional leveling course due to irregularities in the existing subbase surface and to ensure proper drainage. The city said the cost per ton was significantly higher due to the time-consuming work.

According to city documents, it was determined during construction that a leveling wedge later would be required to properly place the intermediate and final layer for the surface of the tennis courts. The layer is more labor intensive and takes longer to place. The change order was submitted by Minturn, Inc.

Other change orders were approved by the city council in the past, including:

• Additional milling of the existing concrete court, interior fences separating the courts and a full intake replacement for $40,394.

• Additional sublease to accommodate the larger court footprint and fence poles with concrete footings to support the installation of a windscreen for $106,395.

• Additional concrete removals which were not included in the original contract but needed for the construction of the concrete ribbon for $20,575.

In total, the change orders amount to approximately $227,932.

Earlier this summer, the city council approved a $346,146 bid for new lighting at the tennis and pickleball courts. It also approved a $667,683 bid from Minturn for the resurfacing project, which also adds new tennis courts and allows both the junior varsity and varsity teams to play in the same park.

The tennis courts were last resurfaced in 2009. Increased usage and natural wear led to the courts developing surface cracks and uneven playing areas.