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Kaitlyn Kanzler | Staff Writer, @KaitlynKanzler8 Updated 11:11 a.m. ET Dec. 5, 2016

CARLSTADT - Come spring, little league players will play ball on upgraded field facilities. The council recently accepted a $238,000 bid to make improvements to the 10th Street Little League Field.

In September, the Carlstadt Council approved a $250,000 bond ordinance for the improvements. The borough had previously received 2013 Bergen County Open Space Funding for $48,300, as part of a $96,600 matching grant program, and had earmarked the money for lighting improvements at the Tenth Street field.

The council awarded the contract to Tec-Con Contractors, Inc., of East Orange for $237,792. Your Way Construction Inc, of Irvington, was the second bidder, coming in at $300,520. Fundraising chair and public works director Joe Crifasi said the renovations will include new fencing as it needs replacing for safety reasons due to it being outdated.

"The fence has to be 40 years old," Crifasi said. "It's a metal chain link. What makes it unsafe or requiring updating is that the poles holding it up are on the inside of the ball field."

Placing the poles outside the fence will prevent injury to the children who may run into the fence running after a ball. An additional fence will be installed around the bleacher area to protect spectators from a fly ball, new dugouts will be installed and the two-tunnel batting cage will be getting new fencing.

"All these safety issues need to be resolved at one time," Crifasi said. "You can't fix the fence and leave the dug outs or fix the dug outs and leave the fence." A begin date for construction has yet to be set, according to borough clerk Claire Foy. Crifasi said he believes the start date will be almost immediately. The entire project must be completed by Feb. 1, 2017.

"I think they want to start, optimistically, in the next week or two," Crifasi said. The last updates were done about 10 years ago, when night-time playing lights were installed. Councilman and Little League president Joe Emerson said the improvements were a long-time coming.

The Carlstadt Little League was established in 1951. Nine teams participate in Carlstadt Little League, with an average of 100 children, ranging from four to 12 years of age. The Little League season begins March 1 and runs until July 1.

Originally Published 12:45 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2016 Updated 11:11 a.m. ET Dec. 5, 2016