Workers at Centennial Park are going “full bore” amid recent double-digit temperatures to get the long-shuttered park reopened, Sarnia’s chief engineer says, but expected reopening dates – at the end of May and beginning of June – haven’t changed.

“As of right now we’re still sticking with those dates because we don’t know what Mother Nature is going to throw at us,” Andre Morin said Friday.

The $11-million rehabilitation and revamp of the Sarnia Bay-adjacent park – cordoned off after asbestos, lead and other contaminants were found in the soil in 2013 – is making progress.

An update from Morin and Environmental Services Superintendent Joe Boothe this week to city council notes an armour stone wall along the shoreline is done; most lighting is done; electrical, plumbing and final finishes at the former Dow People Place are ongoing; soil remediation work is done – grading and paving queued for when the weather is consistently warmer – and concrete bases are in for playground equipment and a healing garden.

“There is pretty good progress happening, things are really moving along,” Morin said. “The contractor themselves, they really want this job done as well, but there’s just limiting factors.

“Their hands are tied in terms of when they can actually get asphalt, when they can do certain things and plant materials and that sort of stuff.”

A new approach and modified design has also been devised for the boat launch site by contractor Bre-Ex and consultant Golder Associates, the report notes. Previous attempts to build the launch failed when contractors encountered construction materials buried in backfill, making attempts to block water difficult.

Details of the plan weren’t available.

“They feel they have a solution that’s going to work,” Morin said.

“They know what they need to build. We’re hoping they will actually make that happen.”

The new design doesn’t change the size or capacity, the report notes.

Meanwhile vandalism continues to be a problem, as armour stones were recently targeted with spray paint, Morin said.

“Just childish, inappropriate symbols,” he said. “And it’s just a nuisance because then there’s an extra effort and cost to try and get rid of this vandalism.”

The city has hired after-hours security to watch the area until the job is done, he said, noting the “minor costs” are covered within “contingency and existing operational budgets.”

Copper thieves targeting the site were arrested by police, he said, noting contractors have also installed floodlights and other security measures.

Construction work is expected to wrap up in two stages this spring.

The new playground equipment and all works to the east are expected to open to the public May 26, while the remaining park west of the playground – including the new healing garden and public boat launch – is slated for opening June 2.

Talk of a grand opening celebration is underway, but nothing’s set in stone, Morin said.

“As soon as there’s something, I’m sure we’ll be putting out an update to let everybody know.”

tkula@postmedia.com