** Reprinted courtesy of "The Times"

http://www.snponline.com/articles/2010/08/24/the_times/sports/cwstadium%20_20100816_0841am_3.txt

By Chris Miles

It was late in the day on a summer Sunday afternoon and there appeared to be absolutely no organized school activity going on at Canal Winchester High School.

Yet, there was a steady stream of vehicles, bike riders and walkers making their way through the parking lot, all wanting to get a look at the new digs.

The renovation project at Mike Locke Stadium is in its final stages. While there are still construction vehicles present and mounds of dirt and bricks around the perimeter of the stadium, excitement is in the air.

"The field is close to being all done," CW football coach Phil Mauro said. "It's pretty exciting. The field looks great and the entrance way is going to look really good as soon as they're done."

**Reprinted courtesy of "ThisWeek" Community Newspapers

http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/canalwinchester/stories/2010/08/11/private-funding-aids-in-financing-of-new-fields.html?sid=104

By SCOTT HENNEN
ThisWeek Staff Writer

 ** Reprinted courtesy of the "Southeast Messenger"

 http://www.columbusmessenger.com/NC/0/8559.html

CW stadium renovations underway

(by Linda Dillman - July 26, 2010)

Messenger photo by Linda Dillman

Workers roll out artificial turf across the field in Canal Winchester's Mike Locke Stadium in preparation for the upcoming sports season. More than half a million dollars through donations and pledges from individuals and businesses is funding the project at no cost to school district taxpayers.

It's not your mother's Astroturf.

The lush plastic carpet blanketing a bed of gravel at the Mike Locke Stadium in Canal Winchester is a far cry from the fake grass that first sprung up in sporting venues 40 years ago. The material now being installed on the field at Canal Winchester High School not only looks more like its natural counterpart, it also is a safer playing surface than previous generations of artificial turf.

"This is not the same Astroturf you saw in the 1970s," said Canal Winchester Athletic Director Kent Riggs during a July 23 site visit. "This style came out about 10 years ago and is much more grass-like. There will also be a mix of sand and ground-up tires poured on the surface to soften the field."

Riggs said, in Phase I, they're installing the new turf, putting in a new entry way, and constructing a wall recognizing all of the people and businesses who have donated or pledged donations to the project.
 
"We're also making a few improvements around the Hall of Fame Wall-protecting it and dressing it up a little," said Riggs.

In addition to rolling out thousands of yards of green artificial turf, workers from the Sports Construction Group also served as seamstress - stitching up gaps in the seams of the turf by hand in the 90-degree-plus weather.

Stone masons, baking in the summer sun and flanked by pallets of blocks, worked on the new entrance, which features a wrought iron entrance gate topped by an arch featuring Locke's name. Riggs said, depending on the weather, the field should be finished in time for the first home game of the season, a girl's soccer match on Aug. 24.

"We're also moving the big fence higher up on the hill, nearer the sidewalk," continued Riggs, who said the cost for first phase of the multi-phase project is approximately $540,000. "Right now, we're at about 85 percent of having reached that total dollar amount at no cost to the district."

No taxpayer money is being used for the stadium turf and improvements.

"This is a booster-driven project," said Riggs. "No general fund money is being used. It's all privately funded and they're still looking for donations. People can pledge now, but they can stretch it out over a five-year period. In Phase II, they want to add on to the bleachers on both sides of the field, which will double the seating, but we need to take care of Phase I first, before moving on to the second phase."

Anthony Riggs, a 2009 Canal Winchester graduate who is now attending Ohio University, praised the community for their involvement and dedication to the stadium renovation project.

"You don't do something like this in a community, with this type of involvement, without great people," commented the younger Riggs. "We're in unison. This is a type of situation where you have a big school, but you still have a close-knit community. The teachers care. Parents give of their time. It's still an event to come out on Friday nights to a game. You can come up with an idea, and it's easy to say someone else will do it, but the whole community really stepped up when it came to this project. The businesses stepped it up, too."

For information about the project or to make a donation or pledge, contact Riggs at 833-2155, extension 2.

**Reprinted courtesy of "ThisWeek" Community Newspapers

Written by Cory Steger, "ThisWeek" staff writer

 http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/canalwinchester/stories/2010/07/07/sports/new-turf-field-among-stadium-upgrades.html?sid=104

Mud, flooding and divots were the results of too much rain and too many games played at Canal Winchester High School's Mike Locke Stadium last year.

But relief is on the way.

A turf field is being installed for this fall. It is a project that Canal Winchester athletics director estimates to be completed by mid-August.

Last fall the field was in such poor shape that some games were moved, postponed or canceled. It sparked discussion from Riggs last October with various coaches at the school about what it would take to get a turf field.

"Every year we've had some issues when it rains and the quality of the playing surface is affected," Riggs said. "(Last fall) we had to cancel some games and move others to different fields, that was the major issue with us. Obviously, the fact that you can have more events on a field like this and not worry about the condition of it, that helps too."

Football coach Phil Mauro was one of the coaches who helped drive the effort. Last fall, Canal Winchester played host to Amanda-Clearcreek in an MSL-Buckeye Division football game. The Aces won 7-0 on a field that contained shin-deep mud that slowed the game and put the athletes at risk for injury.

"The field gets so much use between football, boys and girls soccer and band that sometimes we dodge a bullet and sometimes we don't," Mauro said. "Last year we caught the rain at a bad time and the field didn't drain that well. The new field just makes sense where nobody has to be concerned about the weather."

Riggs and the rest of the committee didn't want to use school money to fund the project. Beginning in January, the committee started accepting donations. More than 200 area families, individuals and businesses contributed nearly $450,000 for the turf field and other stadium renovations.

A new entry way to the stadium is also being constructed. It includes improvements to the Hall of Fame wall and a brick wall thanking those making donations.

"When you take on something like this you have big goals and hopes, and we strived to have this done this year," Riggs said. "We've had some tremendous support from the community."

The turf field is being installed by the Sports Construction Group, which also has installed the playing surfaces at Hamilton Township, Harvest Prep and Reynoldsburg.

"They have been in the area so we felt comfortable with them, and they gave us a good bid as well," Riggs said.

Construction started in time for the project to be finished for fall sports. Heavy rain early on did not help the process, however. That prevented the Sports Construction Group from excavating dirt from the old field and put them slightly behind schedule.

The football team starts its two-a-day practices before the field is scheduled to be finished, but Mauro said the team will use the practice facilities adjacent to the stadium. Both Mauro and Riggs maintained confidence that the project will be completed on time.

"That rain put us back a bit, but the company is pretty experienced so I don't see it being a concern for us," Mauro said.

 ** Reprinted courtesy of "The Times"

http://www.snponline.com/articles/2010/07/05/the_times/sports/cwturf%206-3_20100627_0940pm_5.txt

By Chris Miles

After years of not knowing what type of home field his teams would be playing on from game to game, Canal Winchester boys soccer coach Eric Feinstein is ectatic about the change.

You probably won't find another Indians coach who's more excited about the fact his team will be playing on a new artificial surface when the 2010 season gets under way this fall.

"I'm excited about it and I know all the kids are excited about it," Feinstein said.

Far too many times in the past, especially late in the season when the playing surface had endured a season-long trampling by multiple soccer teams and the CW football squads, Indians soccer players and coaches weren't sure what type of conditions they would be playing in until just before the start of a match.

** Reprinted courtesy of the "Lancaster Eagle-Gazette"

BY JOE ARNOLD • The Eagle-Gazette Staff • June 15, 2010

CANAL WINCHESTER -- A football facelift is under way at Canal Winchester, and the result is good news for everyone from football players to soccer players to band members.

A $540,000 renovation of Mike Locke Stadium has begun, and by the start of the school year, Indians' athletes will be competing on the same type of turf used by the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens.

"Just with the volume of events we have on that field, every year this field gets hit pretty hard," Canal Winchester athletic director Kent Riggs said. "We spent the whole month of October moving soccer games to the older field. Even when we played on the field, it wasn't conducive to good play. The kids constantly were slipping and sliding.

"The kids work hard. We wanted to give them a quality surface to play on."

Work on the new field began June 4. The renovation, which is being handled by the Brecksville-based company Sport Construction Group, will be paid for with money and services donated by the community, said Paul Owens, treasurer of the Canal Winchester Athletic Boosters.

"We wanted to make sure the community knew this was a grassroots effort," he said. "None of their tax dollars are being used for this project."

Owens was part of a group of about 30 individuals who first explored the possibility of a new field and a refurbished stadium.

Other renovations will include a new entrance, a second ticket booth and new pole vault, long jump and high jump areas behind each end zone.

The district was able to reduce the price of the new field to $450,000 after several local construction companies donated their services.

"We had perimeter drainage at the field, which some older fields don't," Riggs said of the current field, which was constructed in 1993. "We had some things where we were able to save on the up-front costs."

About 200 individuals and businesses raised enough money for the entire $540,000 project during a 10-week pledge drive, Owens said. Donations still are being accepted.

The new field will more than double the number of events that typically have been conducted on it, Riggs said.

"The grass field can accommodate roughly 35 different dates during the fall," he said. "When the new field is done, we can host soccer tournament games, band contests, and football playoff games can be an option.

"We feel like in the fall we can go up to 60 events or more."

Joe Arnold can be reached at (740) 681-4358 or at jarnold@nncogannett.com

**Reprinted courtesy of the "Southeast Messenger"

http://www.columbusmessenger.com/NC/0/8343.html

CW stadium project a go
I wish to thank those who made it possible to install an artificial surface to the stadium field in Canal Winchester's Mike Locke Stadium in time for the 2010 fall sports season as well as a new entryway on the home side of the stadium.

This new surface opens all kinds of possibilities for activities to be hosted at the facility regardless of the weather.

Residents of the Canal Winchester School District can be proud of the fact that none of our tax dollars were spent on this project.

More than 200 families, individuals and businesses pledged almost $450,000 to begin the first phase of renovating the stadium. A hearty thank you to Canal Banking Center for financing the project.

Thanks to the community members who  served on the committee and gave untold hours to bring this first phase to fruition.

The committee continues to accept pledges, to be paid over a 3 or 5 year period, to complete the work to make the stadium one of the finest complexes in the area.  You can download a pledge form at  www.canalwinchesterstadium.com and send it to P.O. Box 105, Canal Winchester, OH  43110-0105.

Enclosing your first payment would be nice; however, no payment needs to be enclosed. Also on the website is a list of businesses who have contributed to the project. Click on the company's name to go to their website, if available.

Thank you to the public for your support and to the committee members for their tireless effort.

Paul Owens

** Reprinted courtesy of the "Southeast Messenger"

(by Linda Dillman - March 16, 2010)

Donations have begun to stream in for the proposed new artificial playing surface at Canal Winchester High School's Mike Locke Stadium.

The cost of the more than half a million dollar field would not be funded by Canal Winchester Local Schools, but through the generosity of the community.

Organizers of a fund drive hope to replace the grass field with the artificial surface through pledges, donations, and in-kind services and install the system in time for the 2010 football season.

"We've been meeting close to every week and have a committee of about 20 people," said Canal Winchester High School Athletic Director Kent Riggs during a March 15 Canal Winchester Board of Education meeting. "No school dollars are being used for this project. The committee is trying to solicit in-kind services (excavation, trucking, etc.) and money is being raised throughout the community. We need about $550,000 to do the project. We're feeling a lot of pride in the community and a lot of groups are jumping in."

Committee member Paul Owens reported, unofficially, pledges total $115,000, in-kind contributions are at $80,000, and there is $34,000 in confirmed donations. Owens said the committee is searching for someone to step forward with a large donation in exchange for naming rights to the new field.

"We're looking at the first of April to see if we can do this year or not. We need about $400,000 (by the first of April)," stated Riggs. "We're looking at the third week in May to start construction and it would probably take about 10 weeks to put in the new surface. This is a community-based thing and it would open up opportunities for the recreation district. We could have more band contests. A lot of different positive things can come from it."

Riggs said the proposed new artificial surface would be more like grass than a carpet.

"For injuries, it plays better than a grass field," said Riggs.

Although the committee is initially aiming at a goal of $550,000 for the field, Owens said they are looking at an overall multi-phase project totaling $1.2 million in renovations. Additional phases include a proposed second ticket booth and facility improvements.

"We'll end up making this a first class facility. As pledges come in, we'll expand the list (of renovations)," concluded Owens.

 ** Reprinted courtesy of the "Southeast Messenger"

(by Rick Palsgrove, Southeast Editor - March 02, 2010)

Image courtesy of Kent Riggs

This is a drawing of what the proposed artificial turf for Canal Winchester High School's Mike Locke Stadium could look like.

Canal Winchester High School's Mike Locke Stadium could soon have an updated look and a new playing surface.

After last fall's busy sports season combined with heavy rains to leave the grass field at the stadium battered and bare, an independent group of community citizens -lead by Jeff Dodson, Paul Owens, and Jim Hummel - decided to pursue raising private money to purchase artificial turf for the stadium and to add other improvements to the facility.

"No taxpayer money will be used for this project. No Canal Winchester Schools dollars will be used," said Owens, who added the citizens group is seeking private and corporate donations to fund the proposed improvements.

According to Owens, the hope is to renovate the 17-year-old stadium in three phases:

•installing an artificial turf field with an estimated life span of 8-12 years, that has the look and feel of natural grass and is infilled with rubber pellets, at an estimated cost of between $520,000 to $550,000;

•improving the main entrance of the stadium at an estimated $100,000; and

•installing additional bleachers on both the home and visiting sides of the field at an estimated total cost of $500,000.

Owens said the hopes are to raise enough money by May to have the new artificial turf field installed and ready to use, as well as the main entrance improvements completed, by next fall. The bleacher expansion would be done in a later phase as money is raised.

Canal Winchester High School Athletic Director Kent Riggs said the stadium hosted more than 40 events last fall including football games, boys and girls soccer games, and a band competition.

"Last fall's heavy rains and heavy use made the field unplayable," said Owens. "If artificial turf is installed it would allow for unlimited use and could open up the possibility of the stadium hosting high school football playoff games, soccer tournaments, and other events."

Riggs said other benefits of installing the artificial turf include:

•offering a first class sports facility for current and future students and the community for years to come;

•allow a partnership with the Canal Winchester Joint Recreational District for access to the stadium;

•reduce field maintenance costs such as watering, mowing, seeding, and fertilizing; and

•bring revenue to both the school district and community by attracting more fans and events to the stadium.

Owens said improving the stadium will bring positive results to the community.
"Past studies have shown that students participating extracurricular programs tend to do better academically," said Owens. "We want to provide a facility that will help students perform at their best and help them and the programs be successful."

Owens said those alumni, individuals, and businesses who would like to help fund the facility improvements can donate up front or pay installments over a three to five year time period. Donations, with checks made payable to the Canal Winchester Stadium Renovation, may be sent to: Canal Winchester Athletic Boosters, P.O. Box 105, Canal Winchester, OH 43110.

For information on the proposed stadium renovations, visit www.canalwinchesterstadium.com.