At no additional cost to the taxpayer and through using Capital Project Funds earmarked strictly for improvements, the Mountain Grove R-III School Board voted recently to approve a $1.3 million project that will install a new RamTurf multipurpose field and track.
ATG Sports, who is known for doing this type of work all over the state at schools like Branson, Poplar Bluff and even for the University of Oklahoma, will begin the project at the end of this month.
They will do the excavation work before laying down the RamTurf and installing a brand new eight lane track that will allow the district to host track meets in the future.
Work in the area will require the removal of the visiting bleachers to extend the new track from its current six lane layout to eight lanes. The Board also decided to donate the visiting bleachers to the City of Mountain Grove for use at the Saddle Club Arena.
Mountain Grove Superintendent Jim Dickey said it will take approximately 90 days to complete the project.
Tom Johns, Director of Support Services, said the track has been on the district master facility plan for 17 years and has been discussed annually.
The Board had to recently look at its options for major changes as the district was three years overdue for stripping the football field completely as recommended to be done every 10 years. It was 13 years ago that a Dick Wilson’ big donation allowed for the installation of the existing bleachers, the recrowning of a new grass field, a sprinkler system, scoreboard and lights.
In looking at the costs needed for the upgrade while taking into consideration the costs for the field’s current maintenance of upkeep, water, mowing and painting, as well as the need to reseal the current six lane track, the Board decided that now was the time to proceed with major improvements envisioned for the complex.
Superintendent Dickey said the change to the new RamTurf will be a big benefit to the district.
“It’s a safer surface,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about water issues. The whole district benefits. The band can rehearse on it, it’s good for PE (all grades)…”
In echoing Superintendent Dickey’s comments, the Mountain Grove Panther Pride Band expressed their appreciation for the project on their Facebook page. “I know the football and track teams are excited for this, but this is also awesome news for the band,” was a comment posted on the page. “No more muddy field experiences on game nights when we’re in uniform and we’ll have a field that more closely matches the feel of the fields at a lot of our competitions. This is going to be great!”
The new field will also benefit the cheerleading squad for their halftime routines. Johns added that it will also benefit the youth programs.
As for the installation of an eight lane competitive track, Mountain Grove will be in line to host future track and field meets. Currently, the program has no home meets and the other districts with eight lane tracks includes Ava, Salem, West Plains and multiple locations in Springfield. The new track installation will likely lead to the purchase of equipment for events like the high jump.
“We have a good number of students who compete at the state level as we have a fantastic track program,” said Dickey as he also noted that there were some 70 kids already involved in the sport. A decision has yet to be made on the color for the new track.
