After an accident damaged a landmark and injured two city employees last year, the City of Tonawanda is moving ahead to rebuild the Clinton Park gazebo.

The Common Council approved two contractors for the project Tuesday night.

The original gazebo collapsed in October 2010 as city workers were replacing the support beams that hold up the roof.

Two employees were injured in the accident, but Mayor Ronald J. Pilozzi said that both have returned to work.

Over the last few months, a committee composed of residents and officials helped design the new gazebo to be historically accurate, resembling the original gazebo, which was built in 1924.

The new gazebo will be built with fiberglass material, according to Pilozzi.

“[The gazebo] is the center of the city,” the mayor said. “It’s an architectural relic that goes back many, many years. It’s important to many residents, especially older ones.”

The general construction contract for the gazebo went to Ledge Creek Development for $54,000, while Landmark Construction Co. will handle railing construction for $14,500.

The city split the project into several components in an attempt to draw lower bids after the initial ones were higher than expected.

According to Pilozzi, the move worked, saving the city about $20,000.

The city is paying for the project using funds designated for a handicapped-accessible fishing pier, which is currently on hold.

Pilozzi did not estimate how long it would take to rebuild the gazebo.

“It’s not going to take much time to build it,” he said. “It’s going to take a little time to mobilize the contractors.”

The city is also holding a fundraiser July 30 to help pay for the gazebo.

Several area bands will perform at the band shell in Niawanda Park from 1 to 6 p. m.

“Going forward, what we would like to try to do is to have more events there,” Pilozzi said of the gazebo. “It hasn’t been used a lot in recent years, and we’re going to change that.”