Construction for the new concession stand and restroom facilities at the Wesclin High School field is underway. Photos by Matt Wilson Construction is underway for a new turf field and outdoor project at Wesclin High School.
The project will include a turf field, resurfacing the track, new visitors bleachers, new concession stand and restrooms. A tree was cut down and a walkway to the visitors bleachers will be created.
"This is just going to be outstanding," Wesclin principal James Rahm said. "This is going to give us more flexibility. Everybody that is going to be using this is excited."
Rahm said the field should be completed by the time of the first home football game. Wesclin is on the road for the first two weeks of the football season and has its home opener in week three.
The turf for the new outdoor facility at Wesclin High School was unloaded off the truck on Wednesday, June 17. The field will be used by multiple sports and activities at Wesclin. The bonds for the project were $7.5 million for everything. The bonds will cover the outdoor project, a potential new field house, and projects at other schools in the Wesclin district.
Wesclin is getting turf from GeoSurfaces, which is the same brand of turf that Carlyle, Central and Centralia has. Wesclin will join Carlyle, Central and Mater Dei as the four Clinton County schools to have a turf field.
"Just in terms of maintenance, a turf field is so much easier," Rahm said. "I know the Clinton County band exhibition last year had to be canceled because our field was just too wet, but that won't happen anymore. As long as it is not raining, we can host that event now."
The field will be used for football and soccer games, band competitions, and other sports for practices. Physical education classes will use the turf field for classes.
There will be a home plate on the field so baseball and softball can practice when needed.
Rahm said the new visitor bleachers were needed. The concession stand and restrooms also are key parts to the project that have many people excited.
The turf was delivered on Wednesday, June 17. All the crown on the grass football field was taken off. The crown is a slight upward arc that runs from one sideline to the other that is a key part of drainage.
The north end of the football field was elevated so they have to tear out and redo the high jump area.
The current soccer field will remain where it is for now. Boys and girls soccer for Wesclin Middle School was recently approved, so a lot of those matches could be played on the grass soccer field. The practice football field also will remain by the grass soccer field.
The current concession stand hopes to be moved to the other side of the field and will be a place for officials.
Rahm said it was about time to have the track resurfaced anyway, so they just decided to do it now along with the field project. It will still be an all-weather track and will have a little more color to it in the exchange zones.
Wesclin administration is hoping that a new field house will be approved in the fall.
