Projects
Martin
Complex- "Back the Track" Campaign
Click for Larger Image
Walking Trail Track Football Field -
Bleachers
-
Concessions
Parking
The ACSDF Board is currently focused on developing the existing 25 acres of the Martin Complex located 1/2 mile south of Alburnett. The area is being developed both for the benefit of the community and the school.
The project includes a walking trail, all-weather surface track, and football practice and game fields
as well as baseball/softball diamonds. A pavilion and a playground are slated for future completion. It is a goal to create a park like setting and provide a wide variety of recreational options at the complex.
"Back the Track" Campaign
The Martin Complex Development will be paid for through the fundraising efforts of the "Back the Track" campaign. The estimated total cost is $992,000.
Details
The Foundation would appreciate your financial support for the campaign. The goal is to complete the project in a 3 year timeframe. Donors can use their tax-deductible contributions to symbolically buy meters of the track. Each 8 lane meter of the 3200 meter track equates to a donation of $310.
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Phase 1 - Back the Track Campaign/
Martin Complex
Phase I development of the Martin Complex was
completed in 2006. This phase consisted of land acquisition, site cleanup,
grading/tiling for the ball fields, parking lot and driveway through the
complex, tree planting and construction of a community walking trail around the
complex perimeter.
Walking Trail & Trees 
In October 2005, an asphalt walking trail was
completed. Alburnett Students use the trail as part of physical education classes. Students
at Martin Complex
The trees along the trail were obtained through a Trees Forever grant and planted with the assistance of Alburnett FFA students. The Foundation was also awarded a
$2500 Alliant Energy Foundation Community Grant to assist with completion of the walking trail.
Pictured to the right are Alburnett students doing some spring cleanup at
the site in May 2009.
Youth Diamonds
The lower youth baseball/softball diamond was completed
Summer 2007. (see picture) This was made possible through a $5,000 grant from the
Minnesota Twins Community Fund and a $7,000 donation from the Alburnett
Sports Booster Club, along with the time and or services of many persons in
the community. Learn More
Additionally a $3000 Witwer Trust grant was was used to purchase cement
picnic tables for use at the ball diamond. This is the third grant we have
received from the Witwer Trust, totaling $9,000. Starting in the Summer of
2008, little league ball games were held at the lower youth diamond.
Phase 2 - Back the Track
Campaign/Martin Complex
The Foundation
board is currently in the capital fund raising stage for Phase II. Phase will
include an 8-lane/400-meter/all-weather track, football field, practice
field, concessions/storage facility, bleachers, crow’s nest and parking
area. This phase will also include grading, tiling, irrigation, fencing,
water, sewer, electricity, lighting, football field accessories, track
accessories and seeding. We have also included our remaining land payment,
our loan repayments and a contingency amount in our project scope and cost
estimate.
Phase 2 Progress
Thanks to Foundation member Bob Berry's work
with the City of Alburnett, property owner Rick Smith and contractor Rick
Harger with H&H construction, a sanitary sewer line was been extended to the
Martin complex. The sewer line extension was completed at significant
cost savings to all parties involved.
By the Summer of 2007,
a parking lot was established along the east side of the complex. A well
has also been drilled, with work completed and donated by Lyle McBurney.
In 2008, the following work was
completed at the complex:
-
1st Youth Ball Diamond -
Completed infield lime, base/outfield foul pole setting and cement work
outside the backstop on the lower youth ball diamond. The new diamond
was used extensively by many Alburnett community youth for baseball
games, softball games and football practice.
-
A storage shed was built for
ball diamond supplies and equipment.
-
Two sets of 4-row bleachers
and two circular cement picnic tables were purchased for the new ball
diamond.
-
Rough grading for the track
and football field was nearly completed. This work was again delayed in
2008 due to a very wet spring and early summer as well as an early
winter.
2009 projects included the following
- Second youth ball diamond
- Grading of the remainder of the complex. (Remaining rough
grading to be completed in Spring 2010)
- Tiling of the remainder of the complex both inside and around
the track perimeter (Remaining tiling and surface drainage
improvement work to be completed in Spring 2010)
- Installation of three-phase electrical service (Prep work
completed as of December 2009)
- Installation of a well pump, pressure tank and hydrant
- Raise the height of and improve drainage for portions of the
walking trail
-
Construction of
the track and football field could begin as soon as one year after
completion of the grading and tiling, once the ground has adequately
settled. The leadership gift of $150,000 from the Morris
Neighbor Family and Farmers State Bank will underwrite the cost of
the track.
Alburnett Boy Scout Troop 504
Eagle Quest is an additional set of projects being worked at the complex,
starting in the Fall of 2009.
The 5 projects for 5 Eagle Scouts include:
-
2 Horseshoe pits and benches
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Sand Volleyball court
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Fitness stations along the
walking trail
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Landscaping
-
Painting dugouts, mulching
around trees and landscaping along the trail.
As of December 2009, landscaping
for six fitness stations along the walking trail has been completed and two
horseshoe pits and benches were constructed in the northwest corner of the
complex.
Donations of skilled labor, general labor, building materials and equipment could greatly reduce
the estimated total cost and duration for Phase 2. Please contact a Foundation Board Member or Al Sorensen at 378-3914 is you have an interest in helping with this phase.
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