The first work to transform a section of the riverfront in downtown Fort Dodge will be done this year under a contract awarded by the City Council Monday night.

The council hired Rasch Construction, of Fort Dodge, to do the job at a cost of $2,349,925.

The company will prepare for the construction of a new nature center that will be owned and operated by Webster County Conservation. It will also rebuild a section of First Street.

“This is the start of a major project,” Councilman Terry Moehnke said. “I think this is going to rebuild our riverfront and make it a destination.”

Rasch Construction will complete these tasks:

• Earthmoving for the construction of the nature center.

• Relocate a sanitary sewer.

• Replace a water main.

• Upgrade storm sewers.

• Completely rebuild First Street between the bridge over Soldier Creek and First Avenue South.

The contract was awarded on a unanimous vote.

Crow River Construction, of New London, Minnesota, offered the only other bid of $2,625,051.

The nature center will be located between the Des Moines River and First Street. It will be a 15,000-square-foot building featuring exhibit space, classrooms, a kitchen and offices. It is estimated to cost $5.5 million,

Also on Monday, the council approved an agreement with the Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex Development Group for the construction of a large outfield wall on the primary baseball field.

The wall will be 240 feet long and 30 feet high. It has been dubbed the Green Monster after another such massive wall at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.

The wall will be paid for with donations, not tax dollars. The Development Group has hired Jensen Builders Ltd., of Fort Dodge, to build it.

The work is to be done by the end of April.

Artificial turf is being installed on that baseball field, which may become the home field for Iowa Central Community College baseball.