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Citizens group seeks to upgrade CW's Mike Locke Stadium
(by Rick Palsgrove, Southeast Editor - March 02, 2010)
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| Image courtesy of Kent Riggs |
| This is a drawing of what the proposed artificial turf for Canal Winchester High School's Mike Locke Stadium could look like. |
Canal Winchester High School's Mike Locke Stadium could soon have an updated look and a new playing surface.
After last fall's busy sports season combined with heavy rains to leave the grass field at the stadium battered and bare, an independent group of community citizens -lead by Jeff Dodson, Paul Owens, and Jim Hummel - decided to pursue raising private money to purchase artificial turf for the stadium and to add other improvements to the facility.
"No taxpayer money will be used for this project. No Canal Winchester Schools dollars will be used," said Owens, who added the citizens group is seeking private and corporate donations to fund the proposed improvements.
According to Owens, the hope is to renovate the 17-year-old stadium in three phases:
•installing an artificial turf field with an estimated life span of 8-12 years, that has the look and feel of natural grass and is infilled with rubber pellets, at an estimated cost of between $520,000 to $550,000;
•improving the main entrance of the stadium at an estimated $100,000; and
•installing additional bleachers on both the home and visiting sides of the field at an estimated total cost of $500,000.
Owens said the hopes are to raise enough money by May to have the new artificial turf field installed and ready to use, as well as the main entrance improvements completed, by next fall. The bleacher expansion would be done in a later phase as money is raised.
Canal Winchester High School Athletic Director Kent Riggs said the stadium hosted more than 40 events last fall including football games, boys and girls soccer games, and a band competition.
"Last fall's heavy rains and heavy use made the field unplayable," said Owens. "If artificial turf is installed it would allow for unlimited use and could open up the possibility of the stadium hosting high school football playoff games, soccer tournaments, and other events."
Riggs said other benefits of installing the artificial turf include:
•offering a first class sports facility for current and future students and the community for years to come;
•allow a partnership with the Canal Winchester Joint Recreational District for access to the stadium;
•reduce field maintenance costs such as watering, mowing, seeding, and fertilizing; and
•bring revenue to both the school district and community by attracting more fans and events to the stadium.
Owens said improving the stadium will bring positive results to the community.
"Past studies have shown that students participating extracurricular programs tend to do better academically," said Owens. "We want to provide a facility that will help students perform at their best and help them and the programs be successful."
Owens said those alumni, individuals, and businesses who would like to help fund the facility improvements can donate up front or pay installments over a three to five year time period. Donations, with checks made payable to the Canal Winchester Stadium Renovation, may be sent to: Canal Winchester Athletic Boosters, P.O. Box 105, Canal Winchester, OH 43110.
For information on the proposed stadium renovations, visit www.canalwinchesterstadium.com.
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