POA reviews bids for Happy Camp Project

A Request for Proposal for the Happy Camp Construction Project was released on Nov. 18. The POA received 10 bids from general contractors with base bids ranging from $702,500 to $1,079,000 with a variety of six additive and deductive alternates submitted. Management is reviewing all bids and plans to make a presentation and recommendation to the POA Board of Directors at a Special Executive Session Meeting on Jan. 2 with the goal of the board voting on the recommendation at the Open Session Meeting following at 7 p.m.

Happy Camp is one Canyon Lake’s most unique amenities, offering both water views and beach-front camping to members and their guests. It’s the least subsidized amenity and generates a substantial amount of income.

The renovation will increase campsites with RV hookups from 34 sites to 55 sites which will allow the campground to generate more income.

Despite being one of the community’s most popular destinations, Happy Camp has received little attention over the years. Renovation plans were first discussed and drawn in 1999. Since then, there have been multiple designs, as well as projected start dates that were ultimately delayed. The roads and utility services are aged, badly deteriorating, and undersized for modern RVs.

The Happy Camp Construction Project will be an extensive modernization of the campground area to include rehabilitation and/or replacement of the asphalt roads, new concrete walkways, new sewer system, new water laterals, and new electrical system.

There will be campsite and road layout changes to accommodate larger RVs with slide-outs, plus the addition of more campsites with RV hookups. There will also be a total electrical system upgrade including a new Edison transformer, new conduit and wiring and new electrical pedestals to accommodate modern RVs and increased overall electrical loads. Street lighting and power poles are also going to be replaced.

In a second phase, the campground office will be relocated and the restrooms will be remodeled.

The project is anticipated to begin in January and be completed before Memorial Day. Funds for the project will come from both the Repair/Replace Reserve Fund and the Road Reserve Fund.

Project updates will be posted on the POA website.at canyonlakepoa.com.