Fred Stabbert III | Democrat The grass seed is just starting to sprout on the two new softball fields and soccer field at the Tri-Valley Sports Complex. The first dugout, at far right, is nearly complete.

Team effort leads to new fields at
Tri-Valley

Story by Fred Stabbert III
GRAHAMSVILLE — September 3, 2013 — If all goes as planned, Tri-Valley will have three new athletic fields ready for the spring seasons.
“This is a million dollar project which was done for $100,000,” Tri-Valley School Superintendent Tom Palmer said last week. “We will have two new softball fields with drainage and a full soccer field [between them]. It’s the best use of space.
“Drainage is important,” he said. “These fields will be fully drained. They did a ton of research and installed specially designed drainage pipes.”
Palmer noted that the teachers who helped on the project tied in the research with the kids.
“It was a great collaborative effort,” he said. “If you don’t get the kids involved, what’s the learning process?”
Construction class teachers Phil Pompeii and Todd Heubsch were in charge of the dugouts, which are being constructed on the far softball field.
Teacher Bob Hayes coordinated the design and building of the fields, which are already planted with generic Rye grass.
“The seedlings are starting to come up,” Palmer said. “Our goal is to be ready for spring. Home run fences will be built, which are retractable, so we can use the soccer field.”
Palmer thanked Sheeley Excavating and George Dean for the tremendous contribution to the project.
He also noted that students did more than just run wheelbarrows and shovels, actually operating some of the heavy equipment which was needed to make the project work.
“It’s a great resume builder,” Palmer noted. “When they go to look for a job in a few years, they will have more on their resume than just saying they know how to use a shovel.”