The Keokuk Community School District is hosting a ribbon cutting of the completed turf field and track renovation project at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, at Calvert Stadium.
“I am excited for our community, staff, and students to witness the culmination of our efforts from the groundbreaking to the ribbon-cutting,” Zach Summers, KCSD Athletic Director, said. “There has been a wave of anticipation and excitement.”
Student athletes from the middle and high schools will be introduced, and there will be performances from the KHS Band, cheerleaders and Little Feathers. Also, current and former coaches, the Keokuk Board of Education, the superintendent, athletic director and staff will be in attendance.
“We are beyond excited with how amazing the track and field looks, the school pride that is on display, and at the expanded opportunities this will provide for our students and school community,” Dr. Kathy Dinger, KCSD superintendent, said.
KCSD continues to honor the history of the Jim Kersten Track & Jim Vandenberg Field, which were named in 2021 in honor of the longtime coaches at Keokuk High School. However the facility has been updated with modern functionality to make it a community gathering place based on phase one of the two phase renovation plan. Phase one of the plan was approved by the Keokuk School Board in September 2023.
The improvements include the replacement of the existing track, which remains a six-lane track with an eight-lane 100 meter section and replaced track and field event stations, along with a turf field that replaced the existing grass field for football and soccer, and includes an improved drainage system. An additional benefit of replacing the field with turf is the ability to allow the entire community to utilize the field for events.
“My hope is that this project will elevate how our students, athletes, and performers can demonstrate their gifts and talents, while offering our community a venue of which to be proud—a place to rally in support of our student athletes and performers,” Summers said. “Ensuring our students have the very best here in Keokuk is crucial, and this project marks a significant stride forward.”
The track and field improvements were a part of the first phase of a planned two phase renovation of Calvert Stadium that will remain within the current footprint. The need for renovations were identified by the school community as a priority from a survey conducted in the spring of 2023. Klingner and Associates PC completed the first phase of the project.
Bidding on phase one of the project occurred in January and this phase of the project will conclude in September 2024. The proposed cost for an artificial turf football field that would include drainage is $1,514,550, and the proposed cost to replace the track is $1,513,184. An Athletic Facility Public Hearing and Financing Public Hearing were held in September 2023 to approve the use of the school infrastructure sales, services and use tax revenues for the proposed athletic facility infrastructure project, that would not exceed $4,000,000 in cost. The funds are in the State Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) Fund and distributed to the School District pursuant to Section 423F.2 of the Iowa Code. The use of SAVE Funds does not increase the District’s tax rate.
There will be further discussions on when phase two of the project will begin in Fall of 2024.
