White Field to see more changes

NEWARK- When planing the new synthetic turf at White Field, Newark City Schools Superintendent Doug Ute had a request: the word "Newark" be in the east end zone.

Ute said as people — both Newark residents and out of town visitors — drive around the curve on 79 toward Downtown Newark, they see the field.

“Our field is kind of a billboard,” Ute said. “It’s a nice billboard so to speak, a first impression for many people as they round that turn.”

Athletic Director Jeff Quackenbush said installing the turf got the district thinking about making other improvements to the more than 70 year old facility because its hosting more events.

During the last fall season, White Field hosted 36 events, plus two playoff football games and two playoff soccer games. Prior to the turf it hosted about 15.

“We knew that when we were able to get the turf down that we’re going to have a bunch of events there," Quackenbush said. "Now we need to upgrade everything for the fans.”

By next football season, the facility will have a new concession stand, remodeled and expanded restrooms along with renovated locker rooms underneath the home stands. The three homes in front of the home stands on Church Street will be torn down to make room for a parking lot, Ute said.

The concession stand, which is under the home stands, is moving to its own building in the northeast corner of the field near 11th Street.

“As a kid, before I was athletic director, there were many times that I was … standing in line at a concession stand and you might miss something and you hear the crowd roar and you’re wondering 'What’d I miss?,' " he said. "This will be a lot easier for people to be able to watch the game and still be able to get to a concession stand.”

With the concession stand moved to its own building, there is room to expand and improve the restrooms and locker rooms

"When you look at locker rooms that were built you know 70 years ago and restrooms and those kinds of things aren’t sufficient today," Ute said.

Ute said the three houses on Church Street were purchased by Newark Development Partners, the same group headed by Dan DeLawder that raised the $750,000 needed for the turf.

The district will purchase the houses from the group for roughly the same amount — $325,000 — that the group paid for them, Ute said.

The renovation, which will have more phases in the coming years, will cost the district $1.7 million, Ute said.

Christian Robertson, owner of Robertson Construction, which is handling the renovations inside the stadium, said bids for the demolition of the houses are being accepted until Feb.12 and he expects the homes to come down in early spring.

The area will turn into a gravel parking lot and will be used for handicap parking during varsity football games and will be open to the general public for all other events, Ute said.

The need for upgrades

Because of the turf, more teams use the stadium including Newark's junior varsity and freshman football teams, boys and girls soccer teams and middle school football teams. Newark's ROTC program, baseball and softball teams will use the facility this spring for practice. Newark Catholic High School also rents the facility for its varsity football games in the fall.

“We’ve either renovated or built new facilities throughout the entire district and this is really the way I see it, the last phase and the last thing that really needed improved and a facelift and needed renovated," Quackenbush said.

In addition to Newark kids using White Field, it was home to four playoff games, which brought in about $5,000 for the athletic program's booster club, Ute said. Hosting those games is good for the city as a whole, Ute said.

“It’s good for Newark to get out of town guests so to speak to come in because they’ll eat at our local places, they’ll buy gas,” he said.

Robertson said his team should be on site by Feb. 15 to start renovations inside the stadium.

The goal is to have construction wrapping up by Newark High School's May 28 graduation ceremony, which is held at the facility.

This year's changes won't be the last at White Field. The gravel parking lot will be paved, handicap ramps and seating will be added, the press box will be revamped and the entrances on the east and west ends of the home side will be condensed into one entrance in the center of the home stands in the coming years.

The upgrades are being done in phases because it's easier for the district to manage, Ute said.

"We want to make sure we keep enough money available in case something major happened in our district," he said.

Ute said improving White Field ties in with bigger trends in Newark.

"It’s a great time to partner with the city and do our part as a school district to help with that downtown revitalization,” he said.

Misti Black, who is a member of the Newark Athletic Boosters and whose son Christian is on the football team, said the support from the community keeps their spirits up.

"It gives them something to be proud of," she said.

mdevito@gannett.com

740-328-8513

Twitter: @MariaDeVito