Facilities Capital Campaign
Southeast of Saline is announcing a fundraising campaign to assist with the renovation of Trojan athletic facilities. The Field House located at Trojan Stadium has been a priority for a while. If you have been out to the football or track facilities you know that the field house is in need of a dramatic overhaul. The bathrooms are in rough shape and their capacity is just not adequate for the crowds that we have at our events. The concession stand is also terribly undersized and needs work.
Maintenance can only go so far for a facility that is over 50 years old. Much of the plumbing is in poor condition because it does not drain properly to be effectively winterized after the football season. Breaks have become common each spring when we start back up for track season. The frequent breaks have caused other issues as pipes within walls must be accessed to be repaired.
Simple maintenance cannot fix the issues with capacity. Trojans' Stadium has been added onto since its original design over 50 years ago. More people in the stands requires more capacity in the restrooms and the concessions areas. We have created a design concept that will address these capacity issues by creating a new concessions room outside the current structure and moving the press box to a second story. These measures will free up space inside the existing structure for expanded restroom facilities.
The School Board has spent a lot of time discussing options for this facility. An architect has been hired and designs have been completed for a full renovation including expanding the restrooms to nearly twice their current capacity and adding on a new concession stand with room enough to effectively serve the crowds we see at events.
The next project that has become imminent is the refurbishing of the baseball field. Normal wear and tear was accelerated by issues with the irrigation system. Since it was time to work on the baseball field anyway the board has decided to upgrade the facility with synthetic turf on the infield. Wind, rain, and use contributes to the deterioration of the field. The turf will allow for a degree of resilience against the elements allowing for a consistent playing surface for practice and games.
The final project is to refurbish the softball field. Although not urgent, we want to give the same consideration to both baseball and softball. The softball diamond is right next to the elementary gym and we anticipate the elementary students will use the new turf surface for recess and PE. It will be the perfect space for kickball and other activities.
These renovations are expected to cost well over a million dollars with the hope of raising $300,000 from private or corporate donations. There will be levels of contributions that will be connected to levels of recognition. It includes options to have names engraved into bricks located at the site and plaques listing the names of leveled donors. The board would even consider renaming the facility under selective criteria. We encourage people and companies to consider contributing to the future of Southeast of Saline facilities. Do not hesitate to reach out for more information as well as follow the links below.
Follow our progress as we look forward to the next 50 years at Southeast of Saline.