A local contractor has received the bid for the first phase of construction of softball and baseball fields for Lacassine High School.

The Jeff Davis Parish School Board’s finance committee voted Tuesday to recommend awarding the lowest base bid of $664,554 to Gunter Construction of Sulphur for the initial phase of the Lacassine Athletic Complex, Baseball and Softball fields project. The company was the lowest of four bidders for the project.

The awarding of the bid is expected to be ratified by the full School Board at its meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday. The project will likely begin within 120 days following the board’s approval, according to Superintendent John Hall.

The proposed plan calls for development of a baseball and softball field complex to be located on a 20-acre site on the westside of La. 101, just south of the railroad tracks in Lacassine. The property is located off campus, but is owned by the school.

“It has been a dream of that community for the past 10 years to one day have fields,” Hall said. “With a lot of support and handwork, it has paid off and that dream is coming true.”

Although the school has had softball and baseball programs for several years, it has not had a field of its own, Hall said.

“Students are currently having to travel for practice, so now it will be in their own community,” he said.

“They will definitely be able to start practicing and as the fields develop they will be able to have day games there,” he continued. “It will also leave a footprint for further expansion in the future.”

Funding for the project comes from a combination of funds including $300,000 from the state and $100,000 from a donation. The remaining funds will be derived from contingency funds within the Lacassine school district.