Quakertown starts summer off with a setback but still plans to increase the quality of borough facilities for residents.

        Quakertown officials announced at Monday night’s meeting their dismay in having to reject contractor bids for the future recreational park set for the 12-acre former Krupp Foundry site on Fourth and Mill streets.

        The project is scheduled to begin phase I of construction by the end of 2013 which includes land development, walking trails, a water feature and a gazebo. Phase II, scheduled for 2014-15, is slated to include an amphitheater and restrooms.

        “The bids came in a lot higher than expected,” Councilman Dan Williams stated.

        The anticipated cost of phase I was to be no more than $425,000, but with bids coming in closer to $1 million, officials said they will rethink that portion of the construction.

        The bids will officially be rejected at the next borough council meeting on July 3, with the plan to break down phase I into three separate bids to hopefully decrease costs, Williams said.  

        Borough staff may also be assigned to do the electrical portion of phase I, such as lighting in the proposed park, to lessen the expense and, in turn, bring in lower bids.

        In other news, officials are looking to expand the revitalization efforts to possible traffic pattern changes on West Broad, Front, and Fourth streets. If traffic patterns were changed it could potentially slow traffic down when entering the downtown area of the borough and be more pedestrian friendly, explained Councilman Ed Scholl.

        Williams explained an engineering proposal will be provided by Traffic Planning and Design Inc. to show possible alternatives to the current traffic patterns.  Potential changes to traffic in the area were not identified. 

        This matter will be up for discussion in the future and the decision to obtain a proposal will be voted on at the next scheduled borough council meeting.