The Ames City Council awarded a $1.1 million contract to Caliber Concrete of Adair to reconstruct walking paths at Ada Hayden Heritage Park. The paths, a popular destination for walking and biking, were installed when the park was developed more than 20 years ago.

This project includes the removal of the 10-foot-wide asphalt path and replacement with a 12-foot-wide concrete path. The existing paths will be removed, milled, and put back down to be used as a subbase under the new concrete.

Construction is expected to begin in August and take about 10 weeks to complete.

The project includes the paths around the north and south lakes as well as the connection from the main trail to the Harrison Road parking lot. Three alternates were included for removing and replacing the connector paths leading to Fletcher Boulevard, Stone Brooke Road and Edgewater Circle.

To assist with providing a safe experience for all users, graphics will be painted on the pavement indicating that walkers and runners are to use the portion of the path closest to the lake. Wheeled modes of transportation will be directed to use the portion of the path furthest from the lake. Signage will also be installed, and an education campaign will be launched to help users understand the new protocols.

The paths will be closed for the duration of the project, which is expected to both reduce the project costs and the duration of the overall project compared to phasing. However, staff will emphasize to the contractor to open one of the completed walking path loops, if possible, even though the entire project may not be completed.

In other business, the council:

• Heard a presentation on the proposed design of a new resource recovery and recycling campus with an estimated construction cost of $12 million with a projected opening in the spring of 2027
• Approved a resolution specifying the city’s pay range structure from 2.5% to 3.5% increases and the pay schedule for the 2025-2026 fiscal year
• Approved salaries for council appointees for the upcoming fiscal year with City Manager Steve Schainker receiving a 3.5% increase to $267,222 and City Attorney Mark Lambert receiving a 5.5% increase to $186,132
• Adopted a resolution approving an Iowa Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Improvement Program agreement in the amount of $500,000 to help fund improving the intersection at 13th Street and Grand Avenue
• Conducted a public hearing on construction of the Daley Park Splash Pad. T.K. Concrete of Pella was awarded $322,820 for the base bid and Commercial Recreation Specialists of Verona, Wisconsin, was awarded $577,934 for splash pad equipment and installation
• Held a public hearing on submitting an application to the State of Iowa Economic Development Authority for a grant to assist with the homeless shelter in Ames
• Approved a parks and recreation department maintenance expansion project at a cost of $1.3 million, and
• Annexed one acre of land at 57258 220th St.