VIDALIA — The third phase of Vidalia’s city park received a green light from the Board of Aldermen, who gave the go ahead to begin applying for funding.

The William T. Polk City Park, located just west of the Vidalia Municipal Complex, has a projected cost of $2.5 million and is funded through a combination of grants and city funds.

The park’s construction is broken up into five phases. Phase one’s construction included three basketball courts, tennis court lighting and restrooms.

The city secured a $250,000 grant from the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation fund and matched it with $250,000 in city funds for the second phase, which is 80 percent complete, grants coordinator Teresa Dennis told the board Tuesday evening.

As each of the five phases for the city park are completed, funding and construction for the other phases become available.

The second phase includes building a pier for a man-made pond, winding sidewalks, a concession stand and volleyball courts.

The third phase of the project will include walking trails around the complex, a pavilion near the pond, as well as bathrooms close to the basketball courts.

The board unanimously approved Tuesday a resolution obligating funds for the project, which Dennis said allows her to begin the application for funding.

“It’s an extensive process, but this is the first step,” Dennis said. “The second phase is 80 percent complete, so we’re hoping that finishes soon.”

Each phase of construction takes roughly 10 months to complete, and the entire project is expected to be complete by 2017.