NILES — City Council voted Thursday to seek bids for a new running track at Kennedy Park.

Council member Doug Solitto, D-at-large, who called the special meeting, said the 6-0 decision positions the project to move forward quickly, with bids expected back by mid-September and construction potentially starting in early October.

“We did go ahead and approve to send it out for bid, and we should run within the time frame now by doing this special meeting,” Solitto said.

He noted that all council members except one were present, and the Thursday vote focused solely on soliciting bids, with funding discussions to follow.

The project, estimated to cost $50,000 to $60,000, comes after cost savings of about $40,000 from an original plan, bringing the total down from as high as $90,000.

Solitto talked about some of the benefits the track will provide for the Little Red Dragons and the public, allowing safer exercise without hazards like holes and divots on the existing track, which hasn’t been upgraded in more than four years.

“It’s going to allow the general public to have a nice resource for exercise that’s going to allow kids down there to be able to exercise without the fear of twisting an ankle,” Solitto said.

He added that the city is in strong financial shape and has received positive feedback from residents and supporters of the Little Red Dragons youth program.

Bids will be open to all contractors, with a preference for local firms if their offers are within 10% of the lowest.

Solitto said the work could take three to five days once underway. The initiative faced initial resistance but advanced due to persistence, Solitto said.

“That’s why I stayed persistent,” he said. “I wasn’t gonna let go of this issue.”