Newport News received bids this month from 11 contractors competing to overhaul restroom facilities at Huntington Beach, with proposed costs ranging from $639,000 to more than $2.3 million. The solicitation, issued as an invitation for bids by the city’s engineering department, sought a single contractor to handle work at two sites. The city has not yet selected a winning bidder.
The work calls for two distinct improvements, both within Huntington Park. At Fort Fun, a 14,000-square-foot playground overlooking the James River, the contract requires construction of new restroom facilities to replace the existing toilet facilities there. At the Lifeguard Station, the work involves renovating the existing restrooms rather than building new ones. Both sites fall under a single prime contract, meaning one contractor will be responsible for both.
Huntington Park spans 60 acres along the James River and includes the public beach, a boat ramp, a rose garden, picnicking, ball fields, a playground and fishing at Lake Biggins, according to Newport News Parks and Recreation. A full-service restaurant sits adjacent to the beach. Lifeguards staff the beach seasonally, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The project is expected to be substantially complete 365 days after the chosen contractor receives a formal notice to proceed. The Lifeguard Station renovation carries an earlier deadline within that window, required to be completed by April 30, 2027. No separate completion date has been specified for the Fort Fun restroom construction.
In other news:
Newport News to host public works and waterworks open house Newport News Public Works and Waterworks will hold a joint Open House on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Public Works Complex, 513 Oyster Point Rd. According to the announcement, attendees can visit information stations, watch live equipment demonstrations, and meet city employees who maintain streets, sewers and drinking water systems. Games and giveaways will also be part of the event.
Virginia Peninsula Chamber schedules five ribbon cuttings this fall According to the Virginia Peninsula Chamber, three of the five upcoming ribbon cuttings will take place in Newport News, including events on September 21 at 11864 Canon Boulevard, September 30 at 115 28th Street, and October 1 at 3711 Huntington Avenue. The events, free for members and non-members, run through early October across Newport News and Hampton. Contact Allie Carson at allie@vpcc.org or 757-325-8157 for more information.
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