PRPL staff recommend that the City Council award the base bid contract for the Dehler Park Protective Netting project to Wind and Sun in the amount of $340,426.07. This option includes the recommended Dyneema netting material, which has an estimated lifespan of 10 to 20 years.
The bid package also includes Alternate 1, priced at $294,190.44. This option uses a lower-grade #36 no-knot nylon netting, which has a shorter expected lifespan of 5 to 10 years.

Second Nature Consulting prepared a bid package for PRPL to hire a contractor to install protective netting at Dehler Park, in response to the increased risk of spectators being struck by balls leaving the field of play. PRPL considers this installation a necessary safety enhancement for spectator protection.

The project was publicly advertised for bids, which were opened on March 4. The following bids were received:

Wind and Sun Protection: $340,423.07
Alternate 1: $294,190.44
Empire Net: $349,975.00
Alternate 1: $338,575.00

City of Billings
Billings Mustangs Professional Baseball
PRPL

The City Council may take one of the following actions:
Approve the recommended contractor, Wind and Sun, to install protective netting that provides an added layer of safety for spectators. The base bid of $340,426.07 includes the more durable Dyneema netting.
Approve Alternate 1, in the amount of $294,190.44, which uses a lower-grade netting material (#36 no-knot nylon) with a shorter lifespan.
Decline to approve either option, in which case PRPL will seek further direction from the Council.

Funding for the netting project will come from the Dehler Park Capital Improvement account. The City Council previously approved $100,000 for the netting in the 2024 CIP. Sufficient funds are currently available to cover the full cost of the project.

PRPL does not anticipate hiring any additional full-time employees for this project and expects only minimal increases in maintenance costs over time.