MANATEE -- Construction of long-delayed Little League baseball fields in Palmetto may begin as soon as April after the Manatee County Commission on Tuesday approved an agreement that will legally transfer money for the project.

Before the county could proceed with construction on the $3.3 million project at Blackstone Park, it needed an interlocal agreement setting out terms for transfer of $800,000 that the city of Palmetto is contributing.

The commission gave its unanimous approval to the agreement Tuesday.

Construction is slated to begin sometime in April, with completion slated for fall of 2014, according to Cindy Turner, county director of parks and recreation.

Palmetto officials agreed to contribute $800,000 toward the new ballfields, with county park impact fees supplying the rest of the money for constructio .

Plans call for three regulation-sized Little League fields.

Palmetto Little League has been playing at two adult softball fields at Blackstone Park after Palmetto officials sold its previous home to the county school board for a new elementary school.