Document text
69 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 14, 2004 Kristi Kuehner, front, is one of four local people assisting a four-person base crew out of Portland installing a new synthetic turf at Spiegelberg Stadium. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli New turf sprucing up Spiegelberg Stadium The $70,000 privately funded project is expected to be finished by the end of August By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Spiegelberg Stadium has a stunning new look this week as workers began laying a two-tone green artificial surface on the football field to go with a dazzling blue track that was installed earlier this summer. The $700,000 privately funded project that will turn the grand old stadium into one of the nicest high school facilities in the Pacific Northwest is slightly behind schedule, but is expected to be ready in time for a public display on Sept. 1, said Ed Singler, president of the Medford Linebackers Club that is spearheading the project. Singler said some last-minute design adjustments having to do with lettering on the field put the project, which began on June 14, a couple days behind schedule. "It’s not a big deal — we still expect to be finished by the end of August," Singler said. "Any project of this magnitude almost always has a setback or two. Overall, we’re very pleased with the way things have gone." Advertisement The design problem occurred when lines marking the soccer field began running into North Medford and South Medford logos in the football end zones. The new field will incorporate a soccer field as well as a football field. The football and soccer lines and the logos are sewn into the field. Workers began laying FieldTurf, a grass-like surface made of fibers and a soft composite of sand, on Wednesday. Its two-tone look graces the field of only two other high school stadiums in the country, Singler said. FieldTurf is in use at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Linfield’s stadium in McMinnville and the Oregon State indoor football facility in Corvallis. The surface, which is expected to last at least 15 years, will allow multiple and continual use of the stadium and will save the Medford School District maintenance fees associated with a grass field. The school district also is expected to generate income by charging user fees to organizations not associated with the district. Singler said that FieldTurf, which is based in Lake Oswego, guarantees its work for 10 years and will repair any damage due to vandalism at no cost. "This field is going to be a showcase," Singler said. "If I was them (FieldTurf), I would be bringing people in from all over the country to look at it." All but $50,000 of the $750,000 needed to fund the project has been raised from area businesses, foundations and private parties, but more money is needed to upgrade the bleachers, rest rooms and locker rooms, Singler said. The Medford Linebackers also wants to establish a fund to help replace the new turf. "It would be nice not to have to start at square one 15 or 20 years from now," Singler said. Anyone wishing to help finance the project can call Singler at 772-5360 or e-mail him at [email protected] Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities