The City of Owensboro has 15 active projects across the city, including the York Ditch Stormwater, Senior Center, Cravens Pool and more. Here’s a summary of any delays, updates and other notices about some of the projects ahead.
Cravens Pool
The City recently announced Cravens Pool improvements and repairs were behind schedule. As of the last City Commission meeting, the surge tank has been completed, while the drain boxes and gutter work will be completed soon. Due to an electrical permitting issue, recent inclement weather, and stainless-steel production delays, the parks are looking at an opening date in July. The project is budgeted for $1.98 million.
Indoor Sports Facility
The $18 million sports facility completed its design stage in February and announced it will have a bid opening set for June 13. The architect on the project is working to complete the final details of the construction documents for mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. The documents for the interior courts, entry area, ticketing, concession, storage and officials’ areas are all completed. If all is accomplished on schedule, they believe it will be completed by June 2026.
Senior Center
The City announced the Senior Center would move to Carter Road and 2nd Street in April. Since then, the City has held a kickoff meeting in early May and begun working with the design team to determine the orientation and layout of the new location. The City Projects list says the estimated completion date is December 2026. The City is budgeting $6 million toward the project.
York Ditch Stormwater Project
Work has been well underway in several areas of the neighborhood. The contractor has completed Line F on South York and Line G on Griffith Avenue. The team is working on the weir at the water basin on Carter Road. Once the weir is completed, they will start work on the paved ditch on York Ditch between Carter Road and York Park. The $5 million project is slated to finish in December.
Fire Station #1
According to the city projects list, Fire Station #1 on 9th and Locust Street will have its Command Station completely replaced. The project will also include a new expanded facility. The $12 million project will include updated daytime and nighttime areas, administrative offices and modern apparatus bays. The design team is focusing on the orientation and layout of the new command station in the renovation. It is anticipated to be completed in December 2026.
Fire Training Center
The new classroom and training building broke ground on Daviess Street in November. Since then, development has continued significantly. The Training Tower is nearly complete, with a few remaining work items on the concrete for the roof level and one set of interior stairs. Additionally, work continues on the classroom building and the steel erection is underway. It is expected to be completed by October 2024. It is expected to cost $5.5 million.
Outdoor Pickleball Complex
In December, the City of Owensboro announced they would construct a Pickleball facility at Ben Hawes Park. Lose Design — the designer for the English Park renovations — is working on a conceptual plan and site survey work. The project still requires geotechnical assessment and an opinion of probable cost. The design phase is expected to be completed in late July. It is budgeted for $1.5 million – with River City Pickleball providing a third of the total initial construction costs.
Fire Station #3
Fire Station #3, on Cravens Ave, has been on the slate as the next fire station in Operation: Firehouse to be renovated since its announcement last May. The design was announced in September as a two-story station with three bays for firetrucks. The project is budgeted for $6 million.
Ben Hawes Golf Course Irrigation
The irrigation system at Ben Hawes has been in repair since July 2022. The Parks Department anticipates the almost 2 year-long project to be completed this month. They are awaiting the final paperwork, warranty documents and as-built drawings. The project is budgeted for $2.47 million.
