Despite all the improvements that have been made to athletic facilities at Logan County High School in recent years-an auxiliary gym, a field house, six new tennis courts, and improvements to the baseball and softball fields-more are necessary,
The school board will consider proposals from architects on ways to build a soccer field, improve the track, and replace the bleachers on 1) the visitors’ side of the football field, 2) both sides of the main gym, and 3) the baseball and softball fields.
Five applicants had submitted their “resumes of accomplishments and qualifications, and a list of recent projects” by the Feb. 16 deadline in answer to an advertised public notice. The members of the board of education are reviewing those proposals now.
“I know that it’s difficult for some people to understand why we’re considering spending this much money on athletic facilities when we may be facing staff cuts,” said Superintendent Marshall Kemp, “but the money comes from two different funds. You can’t spend money from either fund on the other.”
Safety concerns, state regulations and the introduction of a new sport have necessitated the improved facilities.
The school system has been told that the track which surrounds the football field needs major improvements. It’s a six-lane track and now eight lanes are required. Also the surface of the track has some breaks in it.
“Actually, it has always been a little short, and now it’s starting to get uneven. Some schools are refusing to run here now,” said Jim Thompson, who has come out of retirement to resume his role of overseeing maintenance and transportation. “Besides that, we’re doing the long jump in the parking lot, and that presents safety concerns.
“We have a track program that’s very competitive, and we need facilities to match.”
The advertising notification calls for a “new eight-lane track with Sealflex Synthetic LR-6 latex compound. Track to include area for long jump, high jump, discus throw and shot put.”
Safety is also a factor in bleachers at all the fields. The existing bleachers have spaces in between that could lead to falls.”Our bleachers don’t meet state standards. It’s possible now to get someone’s head between them,” Kemp said. “It would also be more hospitable to raise the level of the visiting seats in football so that fans can see the field over the players on the bench in front of them.”
The public notice says of the new seating needs: “Bleacher replacement that meets State and Federal Standards for football (visitors’ side of field), Baseball, Softball and Tennis.”
The third need is a varsity soccer field. Younger teams have been fielded by the school the past two years, but varsity girls and boys teams will make their debuts this fall. They have been practicing on an undeveloped area in the eastern-most school property adjacent to the football practice field.
Kemp said two possibilities are being considered. One is to build a new track in the current football/soccer practice area. Seating would be needed there. “We would also have to bring in a lot of fill material to level that field and get it above flood level,” Thompson noted.
The other possibility would be to improve the existing track and use the football field for soccer, too. “We’ve been told that there’s enough room to put in two extra lanes on the track if what’s known as the broken back concept is used,” Thompson said. “That would involve a rounder shape than the traditional oval for the track.”
Both Kemp and Thompson said if that is done, an artificial surface would be needed for the field because it would be in so much use.
Even if that turf is installed, either nine or ten teams would be using the same field (middle school, junior varsity and varsity teams in both boys and girls soccer along with middle school, junior varsity, varsity and perhaps freshmen football). The band also practices and performs on the field, and a major band competition is held there each year. Scheduling could be as much of a problem as is the wear on the field.
One possibility could be to play some or all of the soccer matches on artificial turf of the new sports complex in Russellville across from the National Guard Armory, but initial reports of the city’s rental fee for that field appear to be cost prohibitive.
The bleachers in the main gym have not been reworked since that facility opened in the fall of 1982, and Kemp says they need replacing.
Thompson noted that it’s possible that most or all of the changes could be made in the next few months in time for next season. “Whether we do it this year or next, the time period for doing the work will be essentially the same. By the time football season ends at the start of November, the weather isn’t suitable for outdoor construction. So all the work has to be done in the spring and early summer before new football and soccer seasons begin.”