Soccer lovers rejoice.

The Austin City Council unanimously approved a construction bid Monday night that covers the first phase of building three new soccer fields at Todd Park to complement the three that exist now.

The first phase includes soil and drainage work and is slated to be completed by next June, while the entire project will be finished by roughly 2012.

“I think it’s an awesome thing,” said Kim Underwood, interim director for Austin Park and Recreation. “It’s a long process, but it’s good to get going. I do think it’s going to be worth it in the end.”

The new fields will be funded through a $250,000 Hormel Foundation grant that park and recreation received this year. It will come in the form of $50,000 a year for five years.

Underwood said the existing fields simply aren’t enough to accommodate park and rec, Austin Youth Soccer, adult soccer and everyone else.

“Because of the field usage, we’ve grown out of the three,” she said. “Ideally, if you want to run a tournament, you need to have more than three fields.”

Becky Rasell agrees.

The mother of two soccer players and president of Austin Youth Soccer, Rasell said the new fields are also needed so the existing fields, which have deteriorated over the years, can be renovated.

She said those improvements will likely be made after the new fields are in place.

“For one thing, it will make it safer,” she said.

Within the next five years, youth soccer and park and rec officials say there should be enough facilities for everyone.

“To have them all out there (in one location) will be nice,” Rasell said.

The bid, which was approved by the council 6-0, will be granted to Ulland Bros.

It came in at $148,577.