The final phase of an improvement project at Eureka’s Lions and Legion parks has begun.
The Board of Aldermen voted 5-0 on Nov. 7 to pay three companies a total of $743,876 for the final pieces of the renovation project. Ward 3 Alderwoman Maria Ascrizzi was absent.
The last steps to complete the parks’ improvements include leveling dirt, utility, asphalt and irrigation services.
“We’re just excited,” City Clerk Julie Wood said. “We’d like to tie all these (projects) up so that we’re able to provide baseball and softball to our youths here in Eureka.”
The board awarded JW Bommarito Construction of Fenton a contract for $498,133 for level dirt and utility work. Wood said the city received four bids for the work.
Aldermen also approved a contract with E. Meier Contractor of Weldon Spring for $157,040 to install asphalt. Wood said the city received two bids for the service.
Lawn Systems of Fenton will complete irrigation services for the parks for $88,703. Wood said the city received three bids for the work.
Wood said Bombshell Construction Co. of Wildwood will continue to be the project manager. The board voted unanimously in January to pay Bombshell $2,225,00 to oversee the projects.
Funding for the final phase of improvements comes from the general fund, Wood said.
Park construction is expected to be completed near the end of February.
The renovated parks will include seven turf fields, three batting cages, bullpens, two pavilions and new seating. The parks are located on opposite sides of Bald Hill Road, near Hwy. 109 and Old Town. Legion Park is at 333 Bald Hill Road and Lions Park is at 340 Bald Hill Road.
Play9 Sports, a sports management group, is scheduled to hold its first tournament in Eureka on March 10.
Play9 Sports will pay $186,000 to rent the parks’ fields from March to October 2024, according to city documents. The company will pay an additional $15,500 to rent a pavilion and community center.
“We have a tighter timeline because we know that Play9 is going to be using the fields for various tournaments beginning in March,” Wood said of the final construction phase.
The Eureka Chamber of Commerce and the city held a meeting about the Play9 Sports tournaments on Nov. 9 at the Timbers of Eureka. The chamber invited local businesses to learn more about the expected influx of visitors to the area.
In a release announcing its deal with the city, Play9 estimated the partnership to create $5.3 million in increased economic activity for Eureka, with the tournaments attracting 40,000 visitors annually.
“We challenged the businesses to see how they can handle that extra foot traffic and prepare,” Wood said. “We sensed a lot of excitement in the room for these types of changes.”
Wood said that the ball fields are not the only improvements being made to Legion and Lions parks. She said additional trails that connect to existing trails around the parks are a “bonus city amenity.”
“One of my favorite things to see on a nice winter day when you get people that are kind of stir crazy enough to get out on all the trails that we have in place now,” Wood said. “I expect that to increase in the spring when the whole park opens and all of the trails are connected.”