Oak Hills bidder wants to leave controversial woods alone

Updated 3:03 p.m. Wednesday, May 22:

The deadline for bids on the proposed practice range at Oak Hills Park has been extended until 2 p.m. June 5 according to the city’s website.

Original story:

NORWALK, Conn. – One bid was turned in Tuesday to construct a practice range at Norwalk’s Oak Hills Park. Driving Range Committee Chairman Ernie Desroschers acknowledged that a request had been made to move the deadline again, but he did not know if that would happen.

Jim Downing of Total Driving Range Solutions said he turned in a bid at about 10 a.m. Tuesday. His proposal is for an alternative location to the one proposed by the Oak Hills Park Authority.

The current deadline is 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Downing was one of three potential bidders who attended a pre-proposal conference. Yurly Strus of TurfPro LLC was also there, but said Tuesday that he wasn’t going to submit a bid.

The other officially interested party was Tad King of King Golf International. King, who is overseas, said that he has not submitted a bid, and is hoping for an extension.