3:49 p.m. - The Bismarck Park Board awarded the Elks Aquatic Park construction contract to Associated Pools, whose bid for the project is $120,000 under estimates. The company was the only bidder.

Associated Pools will construct nearly all of the aquatic facility with the exception of the bath house and Custer Park playground. Those bids will be opened July 21 and presented at the July 28 meeting of the park board, according to Steve Neu, district director.

Associated Pools' bid for the first package came in at $967,307 which Neu said was "very good" considering the preliminary estimate was nearly $1.1 million.

"On top of this it fits into the schedules," Neu said. "It's anticipated work will start in the next 15 to 20 days with completion scheduled for May 16 of 2006."

In other activity the Park Board:

3 Heard that students at United Tribes Technical College were working on the final design of the sculpture project entitled "Carriers of Dreams and Prayers" featuring four full-size lifelike eagles perched on columns encircling a ceramic tile mosaic. Cost of the sculpture is estimated at $28,000 and Neu suggested it should be built in Sertoma Park near the entrance that leads to the zoo. The students have created a virtual tour of the sculpture which was viewed by the board. Plans are to start construction within the next month with completion by this fall.

3 Heard the district will bring back a recommendation on the proposed dog park to be built in north Bismarck using the softball diamonds adjacent to Century High School. It was noted the city had changed its leash law ordinance allowing the park district to designate areas where dogs can be off their leash which could include the Century Complex.

3 Heard that phase one of the Pioneer Park to Double Ditch hiking path is near completion with about three weeks of work remaining. Phase one consists of a route from Sandy River Drive north to Double Ditch. Phase one is a route from Pioneer Park to Sandy River Drive. Neu indicated there is a possibility of taking the path through the sandbars north of the park though there is an issue of crossing a channel.

3 Approved a motion to call for bids on the 2005 improvement district, a package estimated at $1.1 million.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)