What you need to know:
• Work runs May 11–June 26, with temporary restrictions possible in active areas of the park
• 15 railing sections and 20 benches to be replaced along the walkway, plaza, and tower overlook
• Town of Floors LLC of Orlando won the $124,200 installation contract, the lowest of four bids
• Combined with a January materials purchase, the full project totals about $244,840
• Officials say the railings show 20 years of normal wear but pose no safety concern
Altamonte Springs will begin replacing aging cast stone railings and benches at Cranes Roost Park on May 11, with completion targeted by June 26, city officials say.
The city commission voted unanimously April 7 to award a $124,200 installation contract to Town of Floors LLC of Orlando, the lowest of four competitive bids. Combined with $120,639.90 in replacement parts purchased in January, the full project runs about $244,840, funded through the General Capital Projects Fund.
Officials say the limestone railing system, installed in 2006, is showing normal weathering and minor cracking from two decades of outdoor exposure — but poses no safety concern.
What’s being replaced
The work covers 15 railing sections along the lakefront walkway and Cranes Roost Boulevard, eight decorative benches in the plaza, and 12 benches on the overlook near the tower.
City Manager Franklin Martz said the deterioration reflects two decades of normal outdoor wear, not storm damage. “The system is not structurally compromised, and there are no identified safety concerns,” he said. “The planned replacement is a proactive measure driven by normal wear and tear and lifecycle maintenance considerations, intended to preserve the park’s appearance and long-term functionality.”
The competitive bid
Town of Floors’ $124,200 offer came in $40,552.93 below the next-lowest bid of $164,752.93 from RKC Site Solutions of Apopka. Ovation Construction Company of Maitland bid $173,600, and Orange Avenue Enterprises of Sanford bid $174,800. All four firms attended a required site visit, and all bids were deemed complete and responsive.
What visitors should know
“Temporary, limited restrictions may occur in active work areas, including portions of the walkway, plaza, and overlook, with safety measures in place,” Martz said. “Work will be paused or adjusted around scheduled events to minimize impacts.”
The installation contract covers labor only. The $120,639.90 in replacement parts was purchased separately in January from Haddonstone (USA) LTD, the manufacturer that originally supplied the railing system and its exclusive distributor. Because no equivalent substitute exists, the city purchased the parts without competitive bidding under its procurement rules.
Cranes Roost Park surrounds Cranes Roost Lake in the Uptown Altamonte district along State Road 436. The park features a mile-long lakefront walkway, a European-style plaza, and the Eddie Rose Amphitheater with a floating stage. The city describes it as Central Florida’s premier outdoor event venue.