A two-phase sidewalk project at the Susiegray McConnell Sports Complex should be completed by no later than summer 2018, if not before.

During its meeting Monday, Washington’s City Council awarded a $24,950 contract to SP8 Enterprises to do the project’s concrete work (second phase) at ball fields 1, 2 and 5. The project, in part, is designed to improve mobility for handicapped people at the sports complex and make the complex more compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The city’s current budget included $56,000 for the second phase of the project.

In January, the City council awarded a $56,000 contract to B.E. Singleton & Sons for the first phase of the sidewalk project. The city budgeted $56,000 for this phase of the overall project, but bids came in higher than the budgeted amount. The city asked the lowest bidder, B.E. Singleton & Sons, to redo its bid based on the budgeted $56,000. Singleton’s original bid was $96,000.

The project’s first phase was completed during the 2016-2017 fiscal year.

The decision to make improvements at the complex, including paving part of the parking lot and building a sidewalk to connect the parking lot with the playing fields, was made by the council during its Feb. 8, 2016, meeting.

City officials believe the new sidewalks will enhance the sports complex, which hosts baseball, softball and other sports tournaments during spring and summer months. Those tournaments generate revenue for the city in the form of sales and occupancy taxes paid by out-of-town tournament participants visiting for several days.

A portion of the $56,000 budgeted for the second phase, but not used to pay SP8 Enterprises, will be used to help pay for repairing a water leak at the Bobby Andrews Recreation Center and replacing parts of the tile floor damaged by the leak, according to the memorandum. The leak occurred in the center’s meeting room.

SP8 Enterprises also was awarded a $32,605 contract to replace the roof at the Hildred T. Moore Aquatic and Fitness Center.