For the Hub City Times

MARSHFIELD – Athletes and students in the Marshfield community will soon be playing football, soccer, softball, baseball, lacrosse, and running track events on all new facilities. Thanks to the generosity of more than 500 donors, fundraising has surpassed the campaign goal for Marshfield School District athletic facilities improvements.

The campaign began in October 2017 and resulted in the Kenneth and Ardyce Heiting Community Stadium, which will be located on the campus of Marshfield High School. This new multi-use sports complex will accommodate football, soccer, lacrosse, and track and field events, plus marching band activities. New baseball and softball diamonds will be constructed adjacent to the high school, as well as upgraded outdoor facilities at the middle school.

Kenneth and Ardyce Heiting are lifetime Marshfield residents and community supporters. Both Ken and Ardyce attended Marshfield area schools. Ken is a 1947 graduate of Marshfield High School. Through their significant generosity, the campaign quickly gained momentum and spurred additional support from so many other individuals and businesses.

“This has been an exciting campaign and more importantly an amazing project that will benefit thousands of students for generations to come,” stated Brad Haessly, campaign co-chair. “I’m grateful for the support of the many individuals and businesses in our community which have allowed us to reach our goal and make these long-awaited plans a reality.”

The Boson Company started the project with the relocation of the bus transfer lot and student parking as well as site work for the new stadium, baseball diamond, and softball diamond.

“I’ve never been more proud of Marshfield than I am today,” said Amber Leifheit, executive director of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation and Marshfield School Board Member. “Our outdoor athletic facilities have been a topic of discussion for many years, and now we will have fields, tracks and diamonds we can be proud of to host many student and community events.”

The stadium and ball diamonds are slated to be completed in late summer and then work will begin at the middle school. Donations for the Building on a Tradition of Excellence capital campaign are still being accepted through the Marshfield Area Community Foundation for a limited time. A groundbreaking ceremony is being planned for mid-April.