St. Paul officials say they finalized a $1.72 million contract with Ryan Cos. Tuesday to design the Lowertown ballpark that will be the new home of the St. Paul Saints minor-league baseball team.

Ryan was selected for the contract over two other bidders in January, after a poorly played attempt to give the company a no-bid contract last fall.

This first part of the contract is for work on the schematic design, and the site’s environmental assessment worksheet will start immediately.

The ballpark is being built on the old Gillette site, near the Farmers Market. Demolition of the old building, which was most recently used by Diamond Products, is scheduled for spring and summer.

The city's timeline for the project:

Spring 2013

• Environmental assessment worksheet process begins
• Schematic design begins
• Diamond Products abatement process and demolition

Summer

Soil remediation

Fall

• Design is completed
• Construction begins

Summer 2014

• Install scoreboard
• Install seating

Fall

• Install playing field

Winter

• Construction will be substantially complete

• Saints move offices from Midway to Lowertown

Spring 2015

• Ballpark opens.