Phase 2 - Back the Track
Campaign/Martin Complex
The Foundation
board is currently in the capital fund raising stage for Phase II. Phase II includes an 8-lane/400-meter/all-weather track, football field, practice
field, concessions/storage facility, bleachers, crow’s nest and parking
area. This phase includes 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
was also 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
is 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.
- Tiling of the remainder of the complex both inside and around
the track perimeter.
- Prep work for installing a three-phase electrical service
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 included: 2 Horseshoe pits and benches, a
sand Volleyball court, fitness stations along the
walking trail, 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.
As of May 2010, rough grading of
the football field and practice field areas had been completed by Taube
Excavation. Glen Wickman extended the sewer line from the north property
boundary to the future location of the concession/restroom/ storage building.
As of August 15, 2010, Alliant Energy
had installed the 3-phase electrical service and a
transformer. Fangman-Neighbor Tiling had installed some surface drains along
the walking trail.
As of September 15, 2010, the
following projects were completed or were in progress:
-
Finish
grading of area inside the track
-
Shallow
drainage tile lines under the football field
-
French
drain/collector tile line around inside perimeter of the track
-
Water
lines to football, softball and youth fields
-
Electrical
conduit to both sidelines of the football field
-
Capped PVC
pipe under track in several places for additional lines to football
field as needed.
-
Prepped
soil for seeding.
The above projects were completed
by Prairie Landscapes with assistance from Jeff Carrothers with material
hauling and assembly of water and electrical conduit lines.
-
Fertilizer
and lime applications to area inside the track and practice field
-
Seeding of
area inside track and practice field
-
Hauling
gravel for tiling projects and driveway through the complex
-
Well pump
and water line from well. The pump controls, pressure tanks and needed
water lines will be installed later this fall or in the spring as the
contractor has time.
-
Constructed a temporary utility shed until a permanent concession
building can be constructed.
-
Skinned
infield of the future varsity softball (west) diamond infield and
installed drainage tile and a water line
-
Currently
spreading asphalt milling on the walking tail and lime on the west
diamond infield
Thanks to Marty Boyse, Kyle
Betenbender (AgVantage FS), Mike Zerba (Midway Well), Marv Porter, Bob
Berry, Dan Sherman, Dan Lowe (Pan Ag, Inc.) and Jeff Carrothers for donating
labor, offering discounted rates for labor as work is completed and/or use
of equipment to complete the above projects!
In November 2010, a foul
line/outfield chain link fence was installed on the upper ball diamond.
In December 2010, wooden light
poles were set for the upper ball diamond.
2011 Progress Updates
The
Foundation is currently working with the Booster Club, varsity coach, school
administration and school board on plans to move the varsity softball
program to the upper diamond at the complex, hopefully for the 2012 season.
The football and practice soccer
fields were inter-seeded in the spring and grass has filled in nicely
despite hot and dry weather during the summer. The infield of the upper
diamond has been filled with athletic lime and bases have been set. Benches
were constructed at several fitness stations along the walking trail as part
of an Eagle Scout project. The driveway through the complex now has a gravel
base. An asphalt milling coating will be added in the future. Additional
millings have been added to low areas of the walking trail.
As of December 16th, 2011,
the concession-restroom building and the softball diamond's
crows nest shells are now completed. Subfloor plumbing/drains,
concrete floor, heating ductwork, metal clad ceiling, attic insulation,
doors and windows are also completed for the concession building. The
800-amp electrical service is currently being installed from the transformer
to the the building.
Once the furnace and electrical
service are installed, the Foundation will be seeking the
assistance of community members to complete the interior of the building
including wall framing, drywall, cabinets, counters, shelves, etc.. If you
have an interest in contributing your time and talents to this project,
please contact a Foundation board member so that you may be contacted when we are ready to complete this phase.
Final grading and compaction of
the track sub base has been completed. Required compaction testing will be
done at a later date. Currently working on the gravel base for the track as
time allows in preparation for a temporary running surface and to prevent
erosion of the infield grass area along the track. Also, the ground west of
the track has been built up to direct runoff water away from the track and
for the future elevated home sidelines.
Coming in 2012
Our complex development priorities for 2012 as funding allows include the
following:
-
Finish the interior of the
concession/restroom building. The Foundation is seeking the assistance
of community members to complete the interior of the building including
wall framing, drywall, cabinets, counters, shelves, etc.
-
Install the 800-amp
electrical service from the transformer to the building.
-
Install pump controls,
pressure tanks, plumbing fixtures, furnace and electrical service in the
concession building.
-
Work with the Alburnett
School Board, school superintendent, varsity coach and Sports Booster
Club to move the Alburnett Junior/Senior High School girl's softball
program to the upper ball diamond for the 2012 season. Lights,
bleachers, scoreboard, batting cages and other items will be moved from
the existing softball diamond to the complex.
-
Finish grading/seeding of
park area and areas along the road through the complex.
-
Investigate the next steps
in development of the football and track complex including affordable
options such as used by good condition lighting, loans, etc..
-
Spread asphalt millings on
the driveway connecting the two entrances.
-
Additional Alburnett Boy
Scout Troop 504 Eagle Scout projects.
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
if you have an interest in helping with this phase.
