By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield School District is nearing its fundraising goal for their enhanced athletic facilities project and is reaching to the community in the final stretch of fundraising.

A private group raised over $5 million leading up to this past summer, and with a commitment of $3.5 million from the School District of Marshfield, they reached out to the community for the final $2 million of $7 million needed in private fundraising.

Construction on the facilities began this year with the reconstruction of facility parking at Marshfield High School. Submitted photo

“We’re getting to the point where we can see the $7 million goal right in front of us, and we need to make a final push, whether we do it with our pavers, bleachers, any small increment to make sure that everyone who wants to be involved in the process and be a part of this new beginning has that opportunity. We don’t want to leave anyone behind,” said Marshfield Athletic Director Nathan DeLany.

“Sometimes there are people that wait to see if it will actually happen. Those are the people that I don’t want to be left out.”

There is approximately $200,000 in funds needed for the project and project organizers would like to see these funds come in the next couple of months.

“Our goal is through January, but in all reality I think anybody can be a part of a paver or any opportunity up until August when construction starts really happening and bleacher sections are put in and the concession stand is built – that’s when the true deadline is going to come,” DeLany said, adding that the funds are most needed now to solidify the aspects of the facilities that will need to be constructed this summer.

Among other things, the plan is calling for a new 4,000-seat, multi-use sports complex next to the high school for football, track, and soccer. That plans includes a concession building and Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame features. The plan also calls for a soccer and practice football field and Junior Varsity baseball field on the vacant lot adjacent to the Tiny Tiger Center, west of the high school, and a new varsity softball field next to Madison Elementary School.

“One of the things we have found over the time promoting this is that people in the community understand that we have facilities that aren’t usable in our track and that lower level that used to be a hockey rink,” DeLany explained. “We have a facility in Beell Stadium, while we recognize the history and honor Officer Beell’s legacy, it doesn’t necessarily fit the needs of our athletes in our community today, because we are a much bigger school.

“Beell Stadium will still stand, but it will look a lot better and be used for more things.”

Delany said that the facilities will be able to host outside events that will benefit the school and community, serving as an enticement for those looking to come to the district as well.

“We’ve had numerous times in my tenure of eight years where we’ve been asked to host, and then there are complaints coming from participating schools. We’ve lost opportunities to host because they haven’t wanted to come here, because our facilities were inadequate in their mind,” he said.

DeLany said that Marshfield has not had a home track meet in 10 years.

To donate, contact the Marshfield Area Community Foundation. For more information, visit www.marshfieldschools.org.

“No gift is too large, no gift is too small. We don’t want people to get to the end and regret that they weren’t a part of this new and exciting time for our school and our community,” DeLany stated.

DeLany hopes to have the new multi-sports complex open by Game 1 of Marshfield’s 2019 football season.