Periodic rains put damper on Wescott turf, dome work
Published 10:24 am Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Crews work to install a sand base at the Wescott Field Complex earlier this week, part of the project to install artificial turf and a seasonal dome at the complex. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Work to install artificial turf and eventually a seasonal dome at the Wescott Field Complex is slightly behind schedule due to rainy weather, but Austin Public Schools administrators are hopeful it will get back on track soon.
Director of Facility Services Mat Miller said in an email if nice weather holds up the next few weeks, the project should be able to get back on track. Though the project is a bit behind schedule, the district is not in jeopardy of missing the first home soccer or football games. Miller wrote the work has gone well thus far when there has been nice weather.
He said the contractors have been accommodating by trying to get the work done, even coming in on weekends when possible. Most of the work is yet to be completed, as the excavation and concrete work, which must come first, was delayed by rain.
The contractor’s crew worked to finish a layer of sand on the Art Hass Stadium field and was set to start installing a layer of stone Wednesday to go directly beneath the turf. The stone should be finished by the end of next week — weather permitting — with the actual turf installation scheduled to start July 13.
Construction crews continued to work on Art Hass Stadium at Wescott Field this week. The Packer football season kicks off Aug. 22 this season.
Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
The crews still have to finish the final grading and sidewalks adjacent to the field, along with work on the track field.
On the track field north of Art Hass, the crew has removed about half the topsoil and started excavation of the subgrade. The crew will continue excavation of the subgrade and start installation of the sand layer on that field once that is complete. The crew has installed concrete adjacent to the high jump pit and have poured a concrete curb around the inside perimeter of the track.
The project is being paid for with $2.5 million from Austin Public School reserves, as well as contributions from the Hormel Foundation and a community campaign. The school board voted 5-1 to move forward on the $5.2 million project during its regular meeting on Feb. 10. The dome is part of a larger community recreation center project intended to meet community needs. The district has discussed putting artificial turf on the fields for several years, since some sports now require artificial turf for some tournament games.
