Several Carroll residents addressed the Carroll Community School District (CCSD) Board of Education last (Monday) night to suggest changes to the Carroll Athletic Field. The group, who stated they did not represent any specific entity, were seeking alterations to the fencing that will surround the stadium, the incorporation of fieldstone into the southwest entrance and turning the west-facing entrance to face southwest. Adam Schweers, former mayor of Carroll, was one of the individuals suggesting changes to the design. He says making a few modifications will help fit the stadium into the Graham Park District study created by the Iowa State University (ISU) Community Design Lab.
Schweers believes aspects of the ISU study were neglected while creating the stadium design. He was joined by several other Carroll residents to encourage the board to consider making the changes to the material used to enclose the facility. Currently, fencing designs have the west side of the stadium surrounded with a wrought iron-like fencing with the north, east and south sides enclosed with a black chain link fence. According to Schweers, it would cost the district an additional $154,000 to use only the decorative material. Board President, Jen Munson, says making that change would actually cost about $250,000, a more than 300 percent increase to fencing costs, and the board has an obligation to keep costs down.
Cost estimates were not immediately available for incorporating fieldstone into the design or rotating the entrance 45 degrees. About 25 parents, booster club members and stadium committee members attended the meeting to show support for the current design. Chad Ross, a member of the stadium and voting committee, says they were aware of the district planning, but had no indication of when it would take place.
The current design with chain link surrounding three-fourths of the stadium passed with nearly 75 percent of the vote. One citizen in favor of making changes, Barry Bruner, was also instrumental in making renovations to Merchants Park, which sits in the Graham Park Recreational District. He told the board securing a successful future for Carroll was dependent on the many organizations and governmental bodies being able to work together.
Bids for the stadium have already been awarded and will make altering the design difficult. Everyone in attendance thanked the board for allowing them to share their concerns. The board requested more information on the feasibility and costs of the change and will address the issue again at their next meeting on Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. in the Carroll Middle School library. The new stadium is expected to be completed and ready for use before the 2018 football season.
