POST FALLS — After years in the works, the Quarry Sport Complex is ready to begin construction.

City councilors voted Tuesday to move ahead with a bid by LaRiviere, Inc.  

A Land and Water Conservation Fund grant covers $1.25 million of the cost of Phase 1 and the remaining $4 million comes from park impact fees.  

"We'll be installing two multi-use fields, a restroom, a shelter building and a large parking lot an entry plaza and then a maintenance yard,” Parks Planner Robbie Quinn said. 

The LWCF grant is the largest land and water conservation fund grant received by the city. The grant money was officially awarded in November.

Mass grading, Cecil Road frontage and an irrigation well are already complete on the site.  

A future phase for the Quarry Sports Complex includes a fully synthetic ADA accessible mini baseball field.    

Because LaRiviere was the only bid the city received, City Councilor Marc Lucca wondered if city staff knew a reason why there wasn't interest to build the complex. 

“Any guess on why nobody else wanted to bid?” Lucca asked. 

Quinn noted that about 40 people came to an informational meeting on project bidding for the Quarry, but only a single bid wound up being submitted to the city.

After calling some of the initially interested parties, Quinn noted that some of the contractors wound up being awarded other projects that also would take place in that window and would otherwise overextend them.  

“In general, I think it was mostly just a timing issue,” Quinn said. 

Construction is expected to begin in May. Phase 1 of the Quarry Sports Complex is projected to be completed in December.