JACKSON TWP. The building phase of a new amphitheater in North Park should begin in the coming weeks.

Cavanaugh Building, based in Akron, won the contract for the project with a bid of $2.58 million. Jackson trustees awarded the contract during a regular meeting Tuesday.

Work already has started at the site, which is in an area bordered by Community Parkway NW. Crews have completed site preparation and installed connections for utilities. The next step will be to survey the site and ensure utility installation has been completed properly.

The amphitheater is being built in conjunction with a new branch of the Stark County District Library. The branch will be at the northwest corner of Community Parkway and Fulton Drive NW. The amphitheater will be built north of the library. A plaza, which will be used for lawn seating for the amphitheater, will separate the two structures.

Construction of the library branch already is underway. The building should be open next year.

Plans call for the amphitheater to be finished next March, but township officials hope work could be completed before the year ends. Weather will be a factor in how soon the work will be finished.

Some funding for the project came through state grants. The township used a $500,000 grant to cover the costs of developing plans and to pay for most of the land preparation work. Another $1 million grant will be used to help cover cost of the amphitheater.

Cavanaugh's bid was the lowest of nine that the township received for the project.

"We're starting off ahead of schedule and under budget. Let's hope it stays that way," trustee Jamie Walters said.

Another project — replacing playground equipment — also has started in North Park. Crews have removed old playground equipment and hope to have the new sets in place next week.

During construction, residents are encouraged to use the playground equipment in South Park, which is across Fulton Drive NW.

In other business, trustees:

Agreed to open the township's yard waste site this weekend. The site will be open Friday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and can only be used by township residents. Commercial companies are barred from using the site.Hired Jeffrey A. Aynes and Bradley J. Mericer as full-time officers with the police department.Accepted the retirement of Andrew Jacobson, who will leave the fire department after 33 years of service.Appropriated $110,000 toward the purchase of right-of-way needed for widening Fulton Drive NW between Brunnerdale Avenue and Wales Avenue NW.Appropriated $3,700 toward a traffic study to consider installing traffic lights at the intersection of Fulton Drive and Amherst Avenue NW.Set a public hearing on May 14 with Canton officials for a joint economic development district that will cover the 32-acre Keck business park planned for Wales Avenue NW.

Reach Edd at 33-580-8484 or edd.pritchard@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @epritchardREP