JACKSON CENTER — Work has begun on what will become Jackson Center’s home soccer field and track following a $50,000 donation from the Jackson Center Tiger Boosters.
It is the first step in renovating the outdoor sports fields as the renovations on the school near completion, which school administrators and the booster organization aim to complete at comparable times.
“We’ve taken a huge first step,” said Superintendent Bill Reichert.
For the soccer team, having a field will help immensely. Currently, the team practices on half a field near the baseball and softball diamonds, and play games on a rented field.
“It’ll be closer to the school,” said Gavin Booser, a senior at Jackson Center. “Right now we’re practicing on a little less than half of a field. So it will be nice to practice on a full field, especially because this next class coming in is pretty big and they’ll have a lot of numbers to replace the seven seniors graduating, so it will be nice for them to have a full field.”
The field will be ready for the team by next fall, and is being seeded this week. It will be a grass field with portable bleachers and a sprinkler system. The track will not be completed by fall, but will have the base laid.
“This is good because more people will be able to come and watch and support the soccer team,” said Kennadie Reese, a senior.
The Jackson Center Tiger Boosters has been setting funds aside for this donation for around 10 years. The organization was planning on donating funds towards updating the athletic facilities to coincide with the new school building and old school building renovations. They have pledged an additional $125,000 for the softball and baseball fields and the athletic training facility, which will begin to be renovated this fall and winter.
Over the last five years, the organization has donated almost $100,000 to Jackson Center Schools for athletic programs, facilities and scholarships, all through donations from alumni, residents and local businesses at fund raisers. During the 2016-17 year, the club has donated $27,902 towards athletics and facility improvements.
“Normally we donate about $20,000 to the program to help pay for certain facilities or equipment,” said Greg Woolley, treasurer of the Jackson Center Tiger Boosters. “But in the meantime we’ve been trying to raise extra money because we knew we would have big projects out here, this being one.”
Woolley explained that state funding for athletic programs is hard to come by and the community support is important for funding upgrades.
“We’ll be able to play soccer next fall. As far as the track goes, we’re not quite ready,” said Reichert. “They’ll be able to run on the base, but we’re not quite ready for an all-weather track.”
The school still needs to install a fence, buy track equipment and build a storage shed for the equipment, but funding for those steps is still in the works.
People who want to support further renovations can donate to the Jackson Center Tiger Boosters, or go to their fundraisers. The organization is planning a fundraiser at the Jackson Center American Legion on Oct. 14 during the OSU vs. Nebraska football game called “Buckeye Bang.” The event will feature all you can eat fried fish and chicken, drinks, contests and raffles for a variety of firearms. Tickets are $50 per person and include the meal, drinks and a drawing entry for a Springfield Saint AR/15.
