TOPEKA (KSNT) – Shawnee County Parks and Recreation (SCP+R) is looking for ways to cut down costs for an over $400,000 project to install two new cabins at a local lake.
Shawnee County commissioners gave the green light in a 2-1 vote in March for the construction of two new cabins at Lake Shawnee’s campground area. The addition of the new cabins will add new living quarters for people who are looking to spend an extended amount of time at the lake in comfort.
Ashley Gilfillan with SCP+R said the project to bring the new cabins to the lake is still in its early stage, with some details subject to change as the process moves forward. She said SCP+R is also looking for ways to bring costs down from the proposed $402,000 price tag for the project.
“We don’t have a start date yet, they have been doing a lot of fine tuning to the design and trying to find any cost savings available,” Gilfillan said. “We hope to have them completed by the end of the year.”
Roundabout project completed in southwest Topeka
The two new cabins are being funded by a grant from the Land and Water Conservation fund through the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP). The rest of the project’s costs will be covered by the SCP+R’s revolving fund which generates cash through user fees gathered at the Lake Shawnee Campground.
“The project was approved for $402,000, but [we] will find savings throughout the process if possible,” Gilfillan said.
One of the cabins will have a loft area and consist of 755 square feet of space while the other cabin will be 590 square feet, according to Shawnee County commission agenda documents. Gilfillan said the cabins will come with the following amenities:
- Two bedrooms in each cabin
- Full bathroom
- Kitchenette with a sink, fridge and stovetop
- Heat and air conditioning
- Good view of the lake
(Photo Courtesy/Shawnee County Parks and Recreation)
(Photo Courtesy/Shawnee County Parks and Recreation)
(Photo Courtesy/Shawnee County Parks and Recreation)
(Photo Courtesy/Shawnee County Parks and Recreation)
(Photo Courtesy/Shawnee County Parks and Recreation)
(Photo Courtesy/Shawnee County Parks and Recreation)
(Photo Courtesy/Shawnee County Parks and Recreation)
Shawnee County commissioners also approved the installment of two other 800 square foot cabins at the lake’s campgrounds in August last year at a projected cost of nearly $300,000. You can learn more about the campgrounds by clicking here.
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