The city of Alabaster has awarded a $1.9 million bid for the first phase of a sports complex off Highway 119.

The park will be located north of the Park Forest Subdivision.

In a special called meeting Monday night, the council voted 6-0 in the absence of Councilmember Bobby Harris to accept the bid of D.A. Utilities of Pelham.

According to Councilmember Jim McClain and Mayor David Frings, the first phase of the park project will include five baseball fields with portable pitching mounds, a northern walking track with lights, four large pavilions, four small pavilions, sodding, fencing and parking lot (with the exception of the seal coat).

The bid of some $1.93 million was the lowest of three received for

the first phase of the

project, according to McClain.

Other bids, he said, included Veterans Landscape Company Inc. at $1.99 million and Boyd Excavating Inc. at $2.5 million.

He said a second phase of the project, not included in the bid, will include a concession stand, a maintenance building, sidewalks, landscaping and parking lot seal coat.

The contractor will have 10 days to start the first phase of the project and 100 days to finish, said McClain.

Councilmember Adam Moseley pointed out the money used for this project is from 2002 bond money.

In answer to a question from Parker Bond of Dogwood Trail in Alabaster, McClain said the baseball fields will be sodded in time to take root this fall.

However, he said the city’s land maintenance employees will determine if overseeding with Rye grass is necessary.

In answer to a question from Bond’s son, McClain explained that with portable pitching mounds, the baseball fields become more versatile and muddy conditions are eliminated for pitchers.

Councilmember Henry Hines added that foul lines don’t have to be changed when distances are changed for different age groups.

McClain’s motion to accept the low bid for the first phase project was seconded by Hines.

Present for the special called meeting

were Mayor David Frings, Council President Rick Walters and councilmembers McClain, Michael Sherwood, Hines, Moseley and Tommy Ryals