Northport OKs $17 Million Contracts for River Run Park

The Northport City Council voted unanimously Monday to enter into contracts awarding over $17 million to companies for the last major construction projects at their signature sports complex, River Run Park.

As the Thread has covered extensively, the new nine-field baseball and softball field complex is one of three major recreational projects planned for the city, including the wildly controversial University Beach lagoon and a seemingly stalled-out adventure park.

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Grading and dirt work have been underway since ground broke on the project in February, and on Monday night, the council approved a $14 million contract for "vertical" construction projects - the buildings on site - and another $3 million contract to install turf at the fields.

The first and larger contract was awarded to WAR Construction, Inc. in the amount of 14,194,000.

The company offered a series of seven optional alternate bids that would have added different components to the project, with price tags ranging from just $47,000 for two mini playgrounds to a $1,255,350 option for premium audio / visual equipment and scoreboards, but the city council rejected all additive alternates and agreed to the base $14.2 million contract.

The council also OK'd a $3,165,459 contract with FieldTurf to install athletic turf on the fields. The company boasts clients including three Major League Baseball teams - the Blue Jays, Tigers and Mets - and over 40 colleges and Universities such as the Georgia Bulldogs and Texas Longhorns.

With these final contracts awarded, City Administrator Glenda Webb told the council most of the funds set aside for River Run Park in a bond issue have now been spoken for.

Construction is expected to be ongoing through next Spring and Summer, with River Run Park open for games next Fall.

For more coverage of this project and others across west Alabama as they develop, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.