Thaiss Park
Thaiss Park is a City park undergoing full redevelopment, including new ballfields, a playground, adult exercise equipment, a clubhouse building, and related infrastructure. 5 separate matters touch this project; each has its own status.
Pat Rodio Playground
The Pat Rodio Playground is a public playground project funded at $400,000, of which $315,000 was allocated for equipment and surfacing, with the remainder reserved for fencing, walkways, and trees. Early planning included a public survey (results reported June 12, 2025) showing strong public preference for swings, followed by PRAB's selection of color option 6 from 12 options.
- Parks and Recreation Department Report
Main contractor Bright Construction has fired all staff and deleted their website; the project is temporarily on hold pending clarification, though it remains on budget with an ARPA funds deadline looming.
WSHCC
The West Side Heating/Community Center (WSHCC) is a City of Ann Arbor parks capital project that has been tracked by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB). Through mid-2025, the project was in a planning and financial analysis phase, with staff preparing low, medium, and high cost-recovery scenarios to address concerns about staffing costs and the overall cost of the building; the community preference for open gym time over heavy rental usage was noted as a tension with cost recovery goals.
- Joint School Board Meeting
The contractor experienced financial issues that impacted the timeline but those issues have been resolved; projected substantial completion is end of July to early August, and the Parks Crew has taken over maintenance of the Bermuda grass fields.
The City of Fairfax's Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) 5-Year Update is a long-term planning document covering a twenty-year horizon, required by state code to be updated every five years; the previous update was completed in 2021. Work on the update was underway by at least July 2025, with a public meeting held on November 20, 2025, at Katherine Johnson Middle School Library and a community survey open through the end of 2025.
- Community Member Updates
Thaiss Park/Pickett Rd Underpass was identified as a Salt Watch monitoring site where road salt is reaching unhealthy levels in Accotink Creek. The park is on schedule for completion; sod completion timing is uncertain but will not delay the rest of the park's opening.
Van Dyck Redevelopment
The Van Dyck Redevelopment is a funded parks project in the Town of Vienna that has been tracked by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) since at least October 2024. The project was initially placed on hold pending the start of Thaiss Park construction, and by February 2025 its construction start was pushed to FY28 to avoid concurrent work with the Blenheim Boulevard and Willard Sherwood Center projects.
- City Council Orientation
Thaiss Park is set to open in March 2026, allowing Bermuda grass two seasons to grow. Demolition is complete; the memorial plaque will be relocated to an ornamental native tree in coordination with Little League.
Pat Rodio Park
Pat Rodio Park is a municipal park that has been undergoing a playground relocation and broader redevelopment effort. As of October 2024, staff identified that the playground needed to be moved to a new location; by November 2024, a relocation site had been identified and public outreach was planned.
- City Council Orientation
Thaiss Park is set to open in March 2026, allowing Bermuda grass two seasons to grow. Demolition is complete; the memorial plaque will be relocated to an ornamental native tree in coordination with Little League.
- Consideration of an award of construction contract to Bright Masonry, Inc. in the amount of $7,725,650 for the redevelopment of Thaiss Park
The City Council approved a $7,725,650 construction contract with Bright Masonry, Inc. for the redevelopment of Thaiss Park, moving the project into the construction phase.
passedAuthorize the purchasing agent to award a construction contract in the amount of $7,725,650 to Bright Masonry, Inc. for Thaiss Park construction✓ Bates✓ Doyle Feingold· Greenfield✓ Lim✓ Ross✓ Stehle - Thaiss Park – Update
Thaiss Park is fully funded after the funding passed unanimously at City Council (Councilmember Greenfield absent); construction can begin as early as the first week of November. PRAB agreed the Throne currently at the park should be relocated to another park.
- Thaiss Park – Update
Construction is set to begin at the start of December; the parking lot will be fully closed and signage is being prepared. City Council fully funded Thaiss Park.
- Thaiss Park – Update
Construction fencing is being installed at Thaiss Park imminently; community outreach is underway informing residents that the cross county trail remains open but will not be accessible from Thaiss Park during construction.
- Thaiss Park – Update
Thaiss Park is fenced off and closed for redevelopment; expected reopening date is March 26, with utility relocation work beginning shortly. Historical research connected to Thaiss Park surfaced the story of Andy Smith and Jim Crow-era displacement, prompting PRAB discussion on commemoration options.
- Thaiss Park – Update
Utility lines are being relocated; the gas line does not need to be moved, saving time and money. Construction activity expected to increase as weather improves.
- Thaiss Park – Update
Construction is proceeding on schedule, with work currently focused on utilities and groundwork.
- Old Business – Thaiss Park Update
The Thaiss Park project remains on budget and on schedule.
- Thaiss Park – Update
Project is on budget and on time; ballfields slated to open March 2026 to allow Bermuda grass to take root; all other elements expected late fall 2025 or early spring 2026.
- Old Business – Thaiss Park Update
Project is on budget and on track; timing depends on when sod is installed this fall.
- Old Business – Thaiss Park Update
Project remains on schedule; sod needs to be installed by mid-November to meet the completion timeline.
- Old Business – Thaiss Park Update
Construction is progressing but running slightly behind on sod installation; the playground has been installed.
- Thaiss Park – Update
Completion has been renegotiated to April; sod has been installed, the playground is in place, adult exercise equipment has been delivered, and the project remains on budget.
- Old Business – Thaiss Park
Construction resumed after a snow delay; roofing materials delivered; substantial completion extended to end of April; two EV charging stations added with remaining ARPA funds as project is under budget.
- Old Business – Thaiss Park Update
Construction is progressing with the roof complete; substantial completion expected in May, and summer camps are planned for the site this summer.
- Thaiss Park – Update
Construction is progressing slowly but steadily; the contractor's financial issues have been resolved and the opening date is set for the end of July, with the clubhouse building identified as the primary cause of delays.
- Old Business – Naming Rights Policy
Thaiss Park's scoreboard was cited as one of the items for which a naming rights policy is being developed. Thaiss Park project is very close to completion; the roof and bleachers have arrived, and turf maintenance is now managed by Demetric and Jared.
In full
The City Council approved a $7,725,650 construction contract with Bright Masonry, Inc. on October 8, 2024, and the project was fully funded. Construction fencing went up in December 2024, with active utility relocation work beginning in early 2025. The project has experienced a series of timeline extensions: an initial reopening target of March 26, 2025 was revised to March 2026 (to allow Bermuda grass to establish), then to end of April 2026, then end of April/May 2026 after snow delays, then end of July 2026 after the clubhouse emerged as a primary delay source.
As of the July 2026 PRAB meeting, the main contractor — referred to as Bright Construction — has fired all staff and deleted its website, placing the project temporarily on hold; the project remains on budget but faces an ARPA funds deadline. Key milestones completed include demolition, utility relocation (with the gas line not needing to be moved, saving time and money), sod installation on fields, playground installation, adult exercise equipment delivery, and roof completion on the clubhouse building. Summer camps were planned at the site for summer 2026.
A naming rights policy is under development that includes the Thaiss Park scoreboard.
Separately, the site's Pickett Road Underpass has been identified as a Salt Watch monitoring location where road salt is reaching unhealthy levels in Accotink Creek.