Potential Wheeling Park High School Athletic Field Add-Ons Come to $578K
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WHEELING -- The installation of lighting, a restroom/concession stand and an outfield storage unit at Wheeling Park High School's new athletic field could cost Ohio County Schools more than $578,000, if officials opt to make the move.
Board of Education members were advised this week that if they wanted to install lighting at that field within the next five years, now was the time to lay the conduit while construction crews are on site.
Members unanimously voted to accept for consideration cost proposals submitted to them by Sean Doyle, field representative for McKinley and Associates. The company sought estimates from contractors on site and as well as those doing similar work on local projects, including The Highlands Sports Complex.
The proposed cost for lighting at the field — initially estimated at $500,000 — came in more than $111,000 lower at $388,800. Estimates for installation of a cast restroom/concession building at the field are at about $146,000.
In addition, a storage unit is needed to house a collapsible outfield wall that will be taken down and kept inside when soccer and band activities take place on the field. The outdoor building's price tag is expected to be $43,000. If board members choose to make all three purchases, they would total $578,000.
Doyle said McKinley and Associates felt secure with the estimates, and he recommended the lighting be installed now.
If it isn't done as construction is happening -- and a decision comes to add lighting later -- trucks and installers would need to drive onto the newer turf to lay the field, he said. There could also be additional costs to build access roads to the back side of the field if they were needed.
He said while the complete field could be protected during the installation of lights, there would be a risk of damaging the turf.
"While we're under the hood, let's do it right," Board of Education President David Croft said.
While some of the property occupied by the athletic field lies within the Wheeling Park High School property and is owned by Ohio County Schools, Croft said most of it does belong to the Oglebay Park Commission.
Oglebay has been supportive of the athletic field project, and wants to be involved as it expects the field "will have greater use than the typical Ohio County Schools facility," he said.
Last week Croft, board member Molly Aderholt, and Ohio County schools officials met with officials representing Oglebay Park regarding the field. They spoke with Wheeling Park Commission President and CEO Bob Peckenpaugh, and Oglebay Foundation President and CEO Eriks Janelsins.
"The folks at Oglebay raised a valid question," Croft said. "We're moving dirt, and we don't have an agreement yet. We recognize that needed to be done, and we put together a memorandum of understanding (with the Wheeling Park Commission)."
Ohio County Schools hasn't heard back yet on the temporary contract, but Croft expects they will make changes and submit it back to the board of education soon. No contract is binding until it is approved by board members.
"It will hold us over until the field is done, and by that time we will have negotiated a long-term lease," he said. "We contemplate a 30-year long-term lease with renewals."
The goal is to sign a lease agreement with the Wheeling Park Commission by Aug. 18, Croft said. He added that the school district will seek other funding sources in the community to offset the costs of the lighting.