The Folsom City Council approved a $42,250 environmental consulting contract amendment Tuesday night for Benevento Family Park, clearing the way for updated studies and documentation needed as the previously approved park project moves toward final design and implementation.
The council unanimously approved two resolutions tied to the Benevento Family Park Master Development Plan, including a contract amendment with Helix Environmental for updated environmental consulting services and an amendment with Wilson Design Studios for additional planning, design refinement and construction support services.
According to Parks and Recreation Director Kelly Gonzales, the additional work became necessary after the project experienced a multi-year pause before renewed activity resumed in 2025 alongside expanded community outreach and revised project direction.
“The Benevento Family Park Master Development Plan project has experienced a multi-year pause followed by renewed project activity beginning in 2025,” Gonzales said. “As the project resumes and advances toward completion, additional professional services are required to update environmental documentation, reflect current regulatory requirements, and complete design work aligned with updated community input and project direction.”
The Benevento Family Park Master Development Plan was reviewed by the Folsom Parks and Recreation Commission earlier this year before receiving unanimous approval from the City Council on April 28. During that meeting, council members also authorized three additive alternates for future consideration, including basketball court lighting, two lighted sand volleyball courts and an accessible pathway leading to a fishing dock at the pond area.
The newly approved Helix Environmental amendment increases the company’s contract from $78,248 to a not-to-exceed amount of $120,500.
City officials said the updated environmental work is necessary because several biological and technical studies originally prepared for the project are now outdated due to the passage of time, revised project designs and changing site conditions. Regulatory agencies also require updated biological surveys because many environmental studies have a limited usable lifespan under state and federal regulations.
The Helix Environmental amendment includes updated rare plant surveys, revised biological and cultural resource evaluations, updated noise studies — including pickleball noise assessments — and additional permitting support with regulatory agencies.
Council members also approved an amendment with Wilson Design Studios tied to ongoing design and engineering work for Benevento Family Park and the previously completed Prospector Park project.
According to the staff report, the Wilson Design Studios amendment reflects years of expanded community outreach and redesign work that substantially increased the project scope beyond its original planning efforts.
What initially began as a single community meeting in September 2025 eventually expanded into multiple public meetings, workshops and revised park concepts after residents requested further changes and refinements to the project.
Public input resulted in redesigned park concepts that reshaped the layout, amenities and overall project costs. Among the changes were revised playground concepts, additional passive recreation features, relocated sports amenities, expanded parking considerations and the addition of pickleball courts and youth soccer elements.
City officials said the expanded outreach process was intended to rebuild trust with residents and ensure the final design better reflected current community priorities and budget realities.
“Additional services for Benevento Family Park were driven primarily by the City’s commitment to transparency, rebuilding community trust, and ensuring that the final park design reflects current community needs and expectations,” the report stated.
Wilson Design Studios had originally been hired in 2020 under a shared agreement covering both Prospector Park and Benevento Family Park. The company was initially contracted for $890,000 for planning, design and construction support services tied to both projects.
The newly approved amendment includes additional costs associated with revised renderings, updated construction documents, engineering coordination, community meeting support and design updates connected to the revised park layout and additive alternates approved by council earlier this year.
According to the report, construction documents for Benevento Family Park had previously reached roughly 50 to 60 percent completion before the project was paused and later redesigned following renewed community engagement.
The overall Benevento Family Park project budget currently stands at approximately $7.97 million, including roughly $6 million allocated for park construction and contingency costs. Additional funding covers environmental review, design engineering, permits, project administration and reserve contingencies.
Funding for the project comes from the Park Dedication Quimby Fund, Supplemental Park Fee Fund and Park Improvements Fund. City officials stated there is no impact to the city’s General Fund.
The project remains exempt from additional environmental review under CEQA guidelines because Tuesday’s action involved contractual and administrative approvals rather than physical construction activity.
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