Roughneck93
08-05-2014, 06:53 PM
Finally getting a home of their own....:clap:
C-BISD board approves construction of new softball complex
By ANDY PACKARD andy.packard@thefacts.com | Posted: Tuesday, August 5, 2014 2:00 am
WEST COLUMBIA — After about four months of trying to decide on a cost-feasible softball complex, the Columbia-Brazoria ISD Board of Trustees has approved a design that satisfied officials’ concerns.
“We’ve finally landed on a piece of property, a plan that we like and a financial plan that we like,” Superintendent Steven Galloway said.
The school board decided to go with a design for the new softball complex from Athletic Field Specialists for a cost of $648,362. The facility will include a natural grass field, wrap-around and elevated seating, brick dugouts, a press box, public address system, home bullpen, batting cages, lights and a scoreboard.
“It will have everything a complex is supposed to have,” Galloway said.
Softball coach Shelly Murphy, who has been with the program for 11 years, has been looking forward to having a field specifically for her team.
“It’s been a dream to have our own field, one on campus and something the girls can call their own,” Murphy said.
The facility will provide current and incoming players opportunities previous teams did not have by being able to play on a new field, she said.
The addition of the complex on the high school’s campus will be more convenient for the team, allowing the players to walk to the facility rather than having to drive, Murphy said. The softball team currently plays at First Capitol Park near the Varner-Hogg Plantation.
The softball complex is not part of the $5 million bond passed in 2012, but instead will be paid for from Columbia-Brazoria ISD’s fund balance, Galloway said.
The softball complex originally was among the projects recommended as part of the bond, but officials at the time decided to remove it to improve the bond’s chances of passage and because they felt it could wait.
“Basically what the board said was that they were not willing to talk softball until all the funds were spoken for,” he said.
Now that the district is closing in on completion of the bond projects, it is taking a look at other areas that need to be addressed, starting with the softball field, Galloway said.
The fund balance is healthy enough to cover the cost of the complex, as well as any other project that might come up, he said.
Although the design and construction of the facility has been approved, the district does not have a set date to begin construction, Galloway said.
Officials are waiting for a timetable from Athletic Field Specialists, but expect the process to start within the next month, he said.
“I would not be surprised to see dirt moved in three or four weeks, and hopefully we will be able to play on it for the 2015 season,” Galloway said.
http://thefacts.com/news/article_af8c294a-449e-50e4-b9c5-162f217464ab.html
C-BISD board approves construction of new softball complex
By ANDY PACKARD andy.packard@thefacts.com | Posted: Tuesday, August 5, 2014 2:00 am
WEST COLUMBIA — After about four months of trying to decide on a cost-feasible softball complex, the Columbia-Brazoria ISD Board of Trustees has approved a design that satisfied officials’ concerns.
“We’ve finally landed on a piece of property, a plan that we like and a financial plan that we like,” Superintendent Steven Galloway said.
The school board decided to go with a design for the new softball complex from Athletic Field Specialists for a cost of $648,362. The facility will include a natural grass field, wrap-around and elevated seating, brick dugouts, a press box, public address system, home bullpen, batting cages, lights and a scoreboard.
“It will have everything a complex is supposed to have,” Galloway said.
Softball coach Shelly Murphy, who has been with the program for 11 years, has been looking forward to having a field specifically for her team.
“It’s been a dream to have our own field, one on campus and something the girls can call their own,” Murphy said.
The facility will provide current and incoming players opportunities previous teams did not have by being able to play on a new field, she said.
The addition of the complex on the high school’s campus will be more convenient for the team, allowing the players to walk to the facility rather than having to drive, Murphy said. The softball team currently plays at First Capitol Park near the Varner-Hogg Plantation.
The softball complex is not part of the $5 million bond passed in 2012, but instead will be paid for from Columbia-Brazoria ISD’s fund balance, Galloway said.
The softball complex originally was among the projects recommended as part of the bond, but officials at the time decided to remove it to improve the bond’s chances of passage and because they felt it could wait.
“Basically what the board said was that they were not willing to talk softball until all the funds were spoken for,” he said.
Now that the district is closing in on completion of the bond projects, it is taking a look at other areas that need to be addressed, starting with the softball field, Galloway said.
The fund balance is healthy enough to cover the cost of the complex, as well as any other project that might come up, he said.
Although the design and construction of the facility has been approved, the district does not have a set date to begin construction, Galloway said.
Officials are waiting for a timetable from Athletic Field Specialists, but expect the process to start within the next month, he said.
“I would not be surprised to see dirt moved in three or four weeks, and hopefully we will be able to play on it for the 2015 season,” Galloway said.
http://thefacts.com/news/article_af8c294a-449e-50e4-b9c5-162f217464ab.html