(KNZA)--An improvements project at Hiawatha’s Bruning Park moves forward. 

The Hiawatha City Commission Monday evening voted to award the contract for the project to Bern-based AHRS Construction with a total bid of $236,000, and authorize construction. 

The bid was the lowest among three received and was more than $100,000 under the engineer’s estimate.

The project includes clay surfacing for the baseball fields, concrete parking areas, lighting for the parking areas, a sidewalk connecting different areas in the park and rubber mulch for the playground.  Not included in the bid, but part of the project, will be the purchase of  new bleachers, which are to be let at a later date.

Project Engineer Brian Kingsley with BG Consultants, of Lawrence, said the contractor hopes to start work in two weeks and be complete by the end of April, weather allowing.

The project is being funded through a more than $318,000 Community Development Block Grant awarded to the city through the Kansas Department of Commerce.  The city will provide nearly $32,000 in matching funds.