Kagman Community Park project moves forward

Sonya Dancoe presents to Rotary Club of Saipan members the concept, layout, and plans for the Kagman Community Park project last Tuesday during their meeting at Giovanni’s at the Hyatt Regency Saipan. (Jon Perez)

The planned Kagman Community Park had taken a big step as invitation for bids came out Tuesday, informing interested contractors to begin preparing their proposals for the rehabilitation project.

Interested construction firms can start picking up project packages starting on Monday, Feb. 1, at the office of the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. from Monday to Friday during regular working hours of 7:30am to 4:30pm. A non-refundable $25 fee is required.

A pre-bid conference is scheduled on Feb. 23, Tuesday, at 1pm at the NMHC conference room in their Garapan Central Office. The bid submission deadline is set on March 8, Tuesday, at 11am.

The project, which aims to develop and improve the facilities of the existing Kagman Community Center, is jointly funded by the NMHC through a Community Development Block Grant and the Rotary Club of Saipan.

The Rotary Club of Saipan applied for a CDBG and was approved by the NMHC. They would also use a portion of the funds they raised during the Las Vegas Night for the children’s park.

“Five years ago we started fundraising for this project. [Rotary Saipan vice president] Brian Clayton has been very supportive of the project from the transition of the claim of property to planting of the trees. This project has taken a big step,” said Rotary Saipan president Curtis Dancoe in their weekly meeting last Tuesday at the Kili Café of the Hyatt Regency Saipan.

The final design, layout, and artwork of the Kagman park project were submitted last week to NMHC. The Kagman Community Center is a property that’s between the Kagman Elementary School and the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort.

Rotary member Sonya Pangelinan Dancoe, who opened the SP Dancoe & Associates professional engineering firm, has also lent her expertise on the project. She showed to the members, during the meeting, some of the plans for the project and added that they also wanted to get the schools involved once the project is completed.

“So they could feel responsible in taking care of the property. As much as possible we want everyone to enjoy visiting the park and to avoid,” said Sonya Dancoe, who is also the wife of Rotary president Curtis Dancoe.

Installing solar lights, turning the basketball half court to a full-size court, new bleachers, a community playground, and an exercise area are some of the plans for the Kagman Family Park.

Clayton added that once the basketball court is finished, they would invite league organizers to also hold their games at the new facility.

Aside from the Rotary and the people of Kagman taking care of the facility, maintenance would also fall on the Department of Public Lands and the Division of Parks and Recreation.