FORKS — The Quillayute Valley School District is seeking help from the community to remove the current field at Forks High School before construction begins on a new football and soccer field this spring and summer.
The School Board will vote Jan. 12 on whether to accept a $250,000 state grant to replace the muddy Spartan Field with a synthetic turf field, said Diana Reaume, superintendent of the school district.
The city and district had to choose the top priority of two replacement projects: Spartan Stadium and Spartan Field, both of which are deteriorating after decades of use.
In 2014, the School Board earmarked $1 million in funds for the two projects, each of which has been estimated to cost $1.25 million.
The district held several public forums and took public comment on the decision as to whether the field or stadium should be replaced first.
Field first priority
After the latest forum, on Dec. 15, it became clear the field was the first priority for the majority of local residents, Reaume said.
In May, the city applied for a grant in collaboration with the school district through the state Recreation Conservation Office.
The city was awarded a $250,000 state Youth Athletic Facilities grant to help replace the field, funds that can be used only for field replacement or must be returned to the state.
Returning the funds would make it difficult for the district and city to apply for future grants, district officials have said.
The community has a chance to help the district reduce the cost of the field project.
Field Turf is open to reducing the cost of the field if some of the work is done by volunteers before construction begins — likely in April, to be completed by the fall athletic season, Reaume said.
About 1,000 dump-truck loads of dirt will have to be removed from the field before construction begins, she said.
Reaume said district and city officials hope residents and businesses with dump trucks, excavators and other equipment could volunteer to complete much of the preparation work.
It was not certain this week how much the cost would be reduced, she said.
The field has an excessively high crown running down the middle and can become a muddy mess in wet weather.
The estimated cost to rebuild the field would be about the same as artificial turf, with higher maintenance costs, school officials have said.
Additionally, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, which oversees competitive high school athletic activities rules, requires football playoff games to be played on artificial turf fields.
There currently isn’t one on the North Olympic Peninsula, necessitating local teams to travel for all playoff games, board members have said.
Nearby teams could rent Spartan Field for playoff games, reducing travel time and costs and producing a more authentic “home game” atmosphere, they said.
Spartan Stadium
Spartan Stadium, built in 1960 by the Forks Lions Club, is located behind the high school.
The stadium is heavily used for football and soccer in the fall, for track and field events in the spring and by the youth baseball league during the summer.
The stadium’s cement base is crumbling, its roof is rusting and flaking, and some of the wooden support beams are rotting, district officials said.
The estimated cost for a basic replacement stadium without concessions or restrooms is $850,000.
The addition of concessions and restrooms would raise that cost to $1.25 million.
City officials can apply next year for a $500,000 grant to help with the stadium, but the district must already have matching funds to qualify.
There is no guarantee the district will be awarded the grant, district officials have said.
District officials have also identified a need for a new scoreboard, which is approaching the end of its useful life.
For more information or to provide assistance, phone Reaume at 360-374-6262.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
