The turf for the field is scheduled to be laid this week simultaneously with pouring the asphalt base for the track.
The complex, which will be named Lane Stadium, will seat about 700 fans and house an athletic turf field and a regulation-size track that will be used for field hockey, lacrosse, soccer and track and field. High school football games will remain at Mack Hummon Stadium.
“It’s an important piece to our community.” Superintendent Kyle Ramey said. “It’s clear our community wants to keep football and that Friday night special feeling there.”
Treasurer Kevin Philo said the original track at the high school was too small and didn’t allow for larger track meets, limiting them to host a “dual meet or two.” The new track at Lane Stadium will allow for larger competitions like district meets and tournaments.
Oakwood City Schools will manage and operate the facility, which will include scheduling and organizing school events in addition to hosting outside clubs and high school tournament events. The project has received $3.7 million in donations from about 230 private donors and business owners, $1.5 million more than the goal they set for themselves in 2015. The school district is accountable for about $350,000 of the project, bringing their total pot to around $4 million.
With the project currently on schedule and budget, the project’s team is looking for more donations from boosters, in hopes of adding more to the stadium, including the possiblity of a press box.
“That’s not a reality yet, that will probably be a future thing,” Philo said.
While turf and asphalt foundations are planned for the immediate future, the project isn’t expected to be ready for public use until January. The support building, which will house locker rooms, restrooms and concession stands, is scheduled to be completed in late January or early February.
The Oakwood school community has been raving about the idea of a new sporting complex, according to Athletic Director Laura Connor.
“The parents and athletes are very excited,” Connor said. “Everyone’s really excited for Lane (Stadium) to be open next year.”
While the complex will be used primarily for sports, it will be able to house non-sporting events, giving the city another venue the community can use. Proceeds from the complex being rented out to other interests would go toward maintenance, including turf replacement.
Though a decision on the type of opening ceremony has yet to be made, Oakwood residents and athletes can expect some form of celebration to christen their new complex. Once it’s of use to the student-athletes, all Oakwood residents will have open access to it as well.
“We’ll do a series of things so that the community recognizes that it’s their facility and that they’re welcome to be there,” Philo said.
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