Newton school board approves $3M construction of new baseball field near H.A. Lynn Stadium

Newton baseball players are getting a new field to call their own.

School board members on Nov. 28 approved an agreement with Grimes-based contractor Edge Commercial to construct the new baseball field for more than $3 million. The project is a result of months of deliberation with school officials and baseball stakeholders after the previous field was damaged by a tornado.

Woodland Park sustained heavy damage from the March 5 storm, which tore the city-owned field to pieces. Severe winds took out the first base dugout, knocked out some lights, bent fence posts and damaged one-third of the backstop fences so badly they were in need of replacement. The city did make temporary repairs.

However, the storm damages opened up a broader discussion with school district administrators about future plans regarding the baseball program. School board members began to seriously consider the option of a new field in the summer. The field is to be built across from the softball complex near H.A. Lynn Stadium.

Tim Bloom, director of business services at Newton Community School District, said $2.75 million in SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education) funds had been budgeted for the project, leaving the remaining $328,000 to be paid out of the district’s PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy).

Despite having the money to pay for the project, the school district noted in its recommendation to board members that it does not leave a healthy reserve and will change the future of the district’s capital improvement plan. Many of the bills paid with PPEL funds are software subscriptions, which require a larger balance.

The district noted the PPEL software budget this year is $500,000, but it could be shifted to SAVE funds if necessary to ensure there are no cash flow issues.

Rachelle Hines, of FRK Architects & Engineers, said two bids were provided to the school district. Edge Commercial — which also constructed the softball field’s concession stand — provided the lowest bid of about $3.06 million, and an alternate bid of $11,000 to construct lights for the abutting parking lot.

The other base bid was for about $3.13 million, and $12,300 for the alternate bid. Despite the high price tag, school board members were happy with the contractor. School board member Mark Thayer said Edge Commercial had completed other local projects for the hospital and YMCA.

Edge Commercial will be making its orders shortly but the company is not likely to break ground for another couple of months, Hines said.

“Are we still looking at July 1 completion date, Rachelle?” Thayer asked.

“Yup! Yes we are.”