ORANGE PARK – Officials re looking for potential drainage fixes for Clarke Park, where a nearby pond suffered a stormwater failure during heavy rain this summer.

On Tuesday night, Orange Park town officials unanimously approved $26,710 for firm Jones Edmonds & Associates to conduct a study of the area and a preliminary design for short-term and long-term fixes to Clarke Park’s drainage creek near Kingsley Avenue. According to town staff, stormwater from northwest Orange Park is collected and held in a Clarke Park pond.

Town staff has made temporary adjustments to the area. However, portions of a concrete wall have deteriorated, leading to erosion and exposing a concrete storm pipe that connects to the pond.

Public Works Director Kyle Croce said if anything in the pond was deemed an imminent failure it would be addressed before a long-term fix was found. Funds for the design are available in the town’s 2021-2022 budget.

“During the rain events this summer, we had a lot of failure in that creek along with that control structure,” Croce said. “Ideally, we would have some armoring along the ditch and then a way for the overflow to come into the pond … and have it exit at another area, not right where it comes in and out.”

Town documents state Jones Edmonds will conduct a study of the creek and develop an alternative way to route stormwater. Town Manager Sarah Campbell said an award for a larger project could be on the table in the future, though the council’s decision on Tuesday only pertained to the study and design from Jones Edmonds.

“If there’s work after the fact that exceeds my authority, then we would bid that out and bring it back for an award,” Campbell said.

Councilman John Hauber asked if American Rescue Plan Act funds can be used for the project if it occurs. This is an emergency repair, Councilman Alan Watt added.

“This is a bad situation and I don’t think we have any choice,” Watt said.