CENTERBURG — Gratitude. That’s how Centerburg School Superintendent Ryan Gallwitz describes his feelings about the Knox County community.
Gallwitz said that he is “incredibly grateful” for the help the district has received as it embarks on a project to improve conditions for high school baseball.
If all goes as planned, the team will start play some time next year on a new baseball field located behind the high school on Columbus Road.
Gallwitz said the current field behind the elementary school on Preston Street creates bottlenecks when students are dismissed.
Head baseball coach Josh Moss echoed Gallwitz’s concerns.
Motioning toward the current field, Moss said, “Over here, after school and with the elementary dismissal, we have to push back our start times 30 to 45 minutes. Later in the season, that can cause issues with darkness.”
The project complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and includes a new field, dugouts, and fencing.
However, Gallwitz offered one caveat: There will be a bit of a walk from the parking lot. The field will be on the south side of the Lady Trojans’ softball field.
The good news is that the surface will be hard and flat.
“Where the field is now, there is a hill and other issues,” Gallwitz explained.
Moss said he is looking forward to the opening of the new facility.
“Right now we are looking at next season to be able to play on the new diamond,” he said.
Gallwitz added that it could be as late as the second half of the season.
“We will have to see how the grass takes hold. We are not going with turf, so it may be later than the opening of the season,” he explained.
A community endeavor
The field is part of a multi-year, long-term vision of improvements at the athletic complex. It will cost nearly $450,000.
Centerburg schools will cover part of the cost, such as electrical work and drilling a water well, both of which have been completed.
“The baseball field, including grading, tile, dugouts, fencing, seeding, etc. will cost around $300,000,” Gallwitz said.
Gallwitz is grateful for the community partners who stepped up to support the project, including a $50,000 grant from the Knox County Foundation.
The Centerburg grant was part of $1,087,800 the foundation awarded in February.
Although the school requested $75,000 from the foundation, Gallwitz is thankful for the grant it received.
“I know they have a budget to work with; we could not be more grateful,” he said.
A grant committee reviews applications and makes recommendations to the KCF board. One element the committee considers is the community impact offered by the requesting organization.
Lisa Lloyd, senior program director for the Knox County Foundation, said Centerburg received the grant based on the scope of the venture.
“The baseball field is part of a much bigger project,” she explained.
In addition to the KCF grant, other groups have been instrumental in getting the initiative off the ground.
“The Centerburg Diamond Club contributed $21,000, and Kokosing accounted for $54,000. Park National Bank contributed $15,000 to the cause, and Ariel Corp. provided $25,000,” Gallwitz said.
“And Mark Ramser of Cumberland Gas donated $10,000. We are not even in his area, but he is so kind.”
Galwitz said the school will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony when the facility is finished.