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Ball park construction contracts authorized

City Council Thursday approved construction contracts of $1.1 million for the Bowman Field renovation project.

It happens in a year when the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals will play a game in front of Little League World Series participants on Aug. 20.

Local companies J.B. Gibbons was awarded a general trades contract for its low bid of $974,555, K.C. Larson will do plumbing work for $109,600 and Lecce Electric Inc.’s bid $17,890 was awarded the contract.

Funding for the project — which includes new dugouts, new infield wall, netting and seating — will be from a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital grant, said William E. Nichols Jr., city finance director.

There is $65,506 in contingency leftover funds. Some of the steel substructure was determined by engineers for Major League Baseball to be substandard and in need of support, Mayor Gabriel J. Campana said.

“We have a Major League ballpark in a small city,” said Councilwoman Bonnie Katz.

“We’re waiting for the first strike,” said Councilman Don Noviello, who added the local contractors involved provide a nice hometown touch.

“Historic Bowman Field will remain a jewel in the city’s crown and a place to play professional baseball,” Council President Jonathan Williamson said of the renovations and past repairs.

Williamson expressed gratitude on behalf of the city for the confidence the state Office of the Budget and Gov. Tom Wolf placed in the ground work the city laid in the facility.

Credit was given to Anthony H. Visco Jr. Architects and David L. Witmer, on-site construction manager with Reynolds Construction Management for getting the project to this point.

Work is expected to progress and be completed before the start of the Williamsport Crosscutters’ first home game in June.

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