Abilene Commission Approves $4.45 Million Sports Complex Construction Agreement

The Abilene City Commission on July 13, 2026, approved an amended agreement with Mid America Sports Construction for the city's ball field project, clearing the way for construction to begin in the coming weeks.

Parks and Recreation Director Tim Brooke told commissioners the amended agreement finalizes the scope and price of the project following months of meetings by a design committee that began in January. The total project cost is $4,475,500, which reflects the price minus a design and engineering fee of roughly $230,000 that had already been paid.

Brooke said the committee worked with local contractors and found other ways to reduce costs so the project could include netted backstops, lighting, concrete instead of asphalt, and a black vinyl fence rather than chain link. The design will include four ball fields. "We were not sure if we could get the four fields ... we've got to where we can get the four fields," Brooke said.

The amended agreement also revised the contingency allowance language so the city has final say before any contingency funds are spent. Regarding retainage, city staff explained that 5% retainage would be withheld on the first 50% of the project value and would then stop accumulating, effectively resulting in 2.5% retainage at substantial completion, consistent with the design-build agreement approved in December.

Certain portions of the work will be subcontracted but managed by Mid America Sports, including dirt work by a local contractor, lighting, and sewer and water line work handled in-house by the city. Officials said having the city perform utility work saved a couple hundred thousand dollars.

Funding comes from recreation sales tax revenue and general obligation temporary notes. Officials said the bond amount was $4 million and that recreation sales tax collections have been running between about $51,000 and $56,000 per month, more than originally anticipated. The temporary notes are expected to be issued as bonds in 2029.

Brooke said the plan is to begin moving dirt in mid-to-late August, with completion expected in June 2027. A concession and restroom building will require additional fundraising. The commission approved the agreement unanimously.

Source: City Commission Regular Meeting