Published: June 21, 2008 09:57 am         

Work has started on Thirlby Field renovations

North side of stands gets locker room, rest rooms

TRAVERSE CITY -- Fans attending football games at Thirlby Field this fall will not have to use porta johns.

At least on the north side.

Hallmark Construction has started foundation work under the north stands for men's and women's rest rooms, a concession stand, a locker room and a Hall of Fame room. In addition, an elevator to the press box will be installed and a rest room added in the press box.

"We're on schedule to have it completed by mid-August," said Jeff Fedorinchik, project manager for Hallmark.

Members of Fourth and Goal, a community volunteer group that's raising money to finance the work, held a press conference at the site Friday morning.

Fourth and Goal is hoping to complete renovations under the south stands next year -- and possibly add an artificial playing surface.

"Right now, we have enough money to do the north side so we're progressing forward on that," said Tim Brick, co-chair of Fourth and Goal. "We have pledges in place to do some work on the south side, but we're only spending money that we have available to us right now."

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation is the campaign sponsor for Fourth and Goal.

"Everything is on a cash basis," said Jeanne Snow, foundation executive director. "We don't borrow money."

To date, nearly $1.1 million has been secured in gifts and pledges toward Phase I of the two-phase $2.025 million capital campaign. Brick said of the $1.1 million, the group had approximately $800,000 of that in funds to start the project. The north side renovation will cost approximately $700,000, he said.

"The north side is the costliest side because of the elevator and the additional restroom in the press box," he said.

Part of the infrastructure -- the water and sewer lines -- will be put in place on the south side this summer.

"We're excited," said architect Dave Whiteford, who did the design work. "We're going to get this done over the next six to nine months. We'll raise the rest of the funds necessary to finish it. We'll make it happen."

Whiteford said he thinks work could start on the south side after the football season concludes.

"We'll have that (south side) done in time for the 2009 football season," he added.

Fourth and Goal has received financial commitments from 210 donors.

"The campaign didn't really get cranking until early March," Whiteford said. "So in four months we've come a long way."

Snow said two large donations -- an approximate $250,000 gift from the Oleson Foundation and $25,000 from the Craig and Becky Tester Fund -- jump started the project.

"Without those two contributions, this (project) doesn't get started," she said. "But they believed in this. They felt this effort was going to make it."

Whiteford said he believes there are several other potential donors in the community.

"We only have so many people making phone calls," he said. "I know there's a huge number of people who played on this turf who would love to contribute. They just haven't been approached."

When Hallmark submitted its bid to the Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS), which owns Thirlby Field, it broke the north and south side projects into two estimates.

"The bid (on the south side) is good for 30 days, but Hallmark agreed to an extension," said Paul Mahon, director of capital projects for TCAPS.

"We've extended that bid indefinitely," Fedorinchik added. "If and when that financing comes together, and I believe it will, we'll be prepared to work with the number we offered them."

Landscaping and handicap parking are also part of the Phase I project.

The artificial playing surface is in Phase II. Whiteford is optimistic that could happen next summer. He estimated the cost at about $400,000.

"The possibility of turf here is awesome," he said. "It would increase the use dramatically and it would decrease maintenance. It would save our schools money, which would mean more dollars per pupil for other things.

"I would hope we would be able to do that next summer. We're really one or two significant donors away."

Fedorinchik believes the community will embrace it.

"It's a neat project," he said. "Growing up here, this was Friday night. We're excited and ecstatic. Hopefully, the energy from today will carry through and give us the push on the south side."