Can you imagine an outdoor space that will bring thousands of people to Clarion every year? A space that could be used virtually year-round? It could host baseball and softball games for not only high schools but little league and even college teams. It could accommodate marching band contests and function as a learning space for PE classes. It would even have features that golfers would love to use. The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Board of Education and Superintendent Joe Nelson are not only imagining this space but have already plunged into making it a reality.
The plans for a state-of-the-art baseball/softball complex in Clarion may have gotten rolling relatively recently, but Supt. Nelson said its genesis goes back years. When he took over the CGD Superintendent position last summer, Nelson explains that he walked all the district’s facilities with the administrators. At that point, he was made aware of the universally agreed upon fact that the elementary/middle school needed a gym, not just for sports purposes but simply to accommodate lunch and PE class. This has been the case for years.
When conversations were had about building this gym, engineers confirmed that the best place for it would be on top of the existing softball field to the northeast of the elementary and middle school. In other words, the softball field would have to move. Nelson also added that it has long been planned to relocate baseball, since the current field is on city rather than district property. So, with the need and opportunity to move both fields, Nelson and the CGD Board of Education decided to go big.
The plan was for the new fields to be located to the east of the high school. Other details of course had to be worked out. Nelson said that as they have worked on designing this project with the help of ISG Engineering, he and the board have kept a few things in mind. One thing was that they wanted to be able to use this facility throughout most, if not all, of the year. Hence, the decision was made to go with Astroturf for the fields. This will make the field surfaces usable virtually year-round. Nelson noted, “You can’t rain these fields out. You could get five inches of rain the night before and still play on them the next day.”
Another important principle for district officials who are designing the complex is access and accommodation for all students and really all groups. That is why the planned complex will cater to much more than ballgames. Other sports will have the opportunity to make use of the facility as well. The proposed baseball outfield is large enough for a full-size football practice field, complete with a collapsible goalpost. Nelson added that the track team could even practice on the field and kids could play flag-football there.
Another sport that most people would not immediately associate with this project is golf. Yet, local golfers will be happy to learn about a planned feature of the complex: a large Astroturf green which is planned to be added west of the baseball field. Nelson said, “This is being added not only with our golf teams in mind, but also the community. We have golf courses in all of our towns. It’s a sport embedded in our area.” Consequently, he looks forward to community members making use of the golf green at the complex.
In addition to sports, Nelson added that even beyond athletics, the complex will have a myriad of possible uses. “The baseball outfield would be a perfect area for a marching band competition,” he said. “We realize that not every kid plays sports, yet we want everyone to be able to use this area.” Nelson pointed out that it will also be used as a learning space and accommodate outdoor PE classes for most of the year.
Of course, the baseball and softball facilities themselves will be impressive. There will be batting cages for both sports, warm-up mounds, nice dugouts, a big concession area, ADA-approved restrooms, and ample seating and spaces for spectators. Nelson said that you could potentially watch both baseball and softball games at the same time given the design of the complex.
Coaches who will be using the field are beyond enthusiastic about the project. New CGD head baseball coach Ryan Nail said, “To say that I am excited for this facility would be an understatement. I have coached baseball and softball for the past 15 years and to be a part of a project like this is every coach’s dream! Our athletic program deserves this, our students deserve this and our community deserves this. The fact that we can use this for athletics, academics, fine arts and youth programs will make sure that this project is well worth it and create a positive buzz around CGD for years to come.”
Assistant Coach Matt Odland agreed. As a previous assistant coach and former CGD ball player, he said the old field was not great and that it would easily be ranked lowest in the conference. “It’s hard to maintain, we usually spent a lot of time prepping the field and because we couldn’t charge, we could never host conference games.” This is why Odland is so eager for the new complex. “Baseball and softball sometimes seem to take a backseat in this town,” he added. “We want to get everyone, including youth, excited about the sport and the new fields will help with that.”
New Head Softball Coach Steve TerHark also hopes for that. “We have good fans in our communities. We want to energize them with a great new facility.” He also hopes the community will reap the benefits. He said that he is looking forward to hosting tournaments in the years to come, something that is now not possible given the poor condition of the softball field. TerHark pointed out such events will bring an influx of people to town and simultaneously, tourism dollars.
Nelson emphasized that such great facilities will be a draw not only to community members and sports fans in this area, but throughout the state and even beyond. He hopes to draw teams and competitions of all kinds to use the complex. He could even see hosting college teams on the baseball and softball fields. Nelson even said that they have reached out to Ellsworth College to use the space as their home field for ball games.
Obviously a project of this size will come with a large price tag, but Nelson said the district has been preparing for it. The complex will cost an estimated $2.5 million, with the planned elem/middle school gym costing $4 million. Nelson said the district already has $1.5 million saved for those projects. They plan to borrow the additional sum. He added again that taxes will not be raised for these projects.
The district is working to make this groundbreaking complex a reality very soon. Nelson said right now, they are still in the design phase until early May. He has been in constant contact with ISG as they continue to make adjustments to the design. Next will be working with the school board at a meeting early next month to handle the funding aspect.
After that, the project is full speed ahead. Bids for the construction will hopefully be sought in June. Nelson is confident that construction firms will be clamoring to be involved in this project and put their name on this special facility. By July, bids will be read before the school board and with the help of ISG, they will approve a contractor. If everything goes as planned, shovels will be in the ground by early August. And if the build goes as scheduled, the 2022 baseball and softball seasons will take place at the new complex!
It will indeed be a whirlwind of activity, especially considering the new gym will be under construction at the same time as the baseball/softball complex. But Nelson and the school board insist it will be worth it for both the school district and the community.
“During my Superintendent interviews last February, the community groups spoke up and stressed the importance of providing improved and innovative facilities for our students,” said Nelson. “We’re all proud of our school district, and I’m positive these new state-of-the-art projects will only add to the pride we all feel for our school system.”
