At the city’s November council meeting, Dayton Independent Schools Superintendent Jay Brewer presented some ideas and initial planning for a new athletic field to be built next to Gil Lynn Park.
Plans are still very much in the initial stages, he said. Right now, the plans include an athletic field for football and soccer, bleachers and some related improvements. Additional ideas, including a potential fieldhouse and other amenities, are being considered but will depend on the costs involved.
“It’s not just about putting the field down there. We’re really trying to do something special for the community of Dayton. So we’re really trying to think of all different angles to really make this one of the centerpieces, if not the centerpiece, of our school and community,” Brewer said.
Space considerations
“It’s the recommendation of our architect for safety measures for both traffic and student safety, to go ahead and close Green Devil Lane to permit a safer overall school campus there.”
He said the project would push out a bit toward the street and, in fact, they are already pushing out onto the lane. He noted that people have asked if a track could be added for the school’s track team but there is not enough space.
“So for folks who have been encouraging me to somehow find a way to put a track around there, my answer is it ain’t gonna fit…Tracks are pretty big. So a track, for those of you who are wondering, would pretty much take out Clay Street…it would also take out Third Street, which would then leave all kinds of challenges on how to get to the park and how to get to the high school. So putting a track in there or even trying to get anything that resembles a track is tough.”
Yet, the project plan does include a three-lane straightaway for the students to use for track practice, he said.
“It would be to great use. You can do your 100-meter dash or 100 hurdles, you can do your warm ups or cool downs, all kinds of things,” Brewer said.
He noted that currently the team practices on the streets around the school, and the straightaway would give them an off-street place to practice.
Green Devil Lane, traffic and parking
Brewer said for Green Devil Lane, the plan is to have a turnaround right across from where the softball field is right now, near where the dugouts are. There’s 65 to 70 feet there for that use. Part of the objective is to limit traffic in that area, especially during sporting events.
“There’s still going to be about 12 or 13 [parking] spaces. We are trying to be a good neighbor to the church, because we know that they use those spots on Sunday as well,” he added. “The old API parking lot has 36 spaces in there. So we’ve already grabbed that, and if you’ve been down by the school lately, it has been a tremendous benefit to the area. It’s almost 100 percent full with our staff members, which has really helped to clear off those parking spots for the homeowners.”
A wish list
Brewer shared some information about what could be added to the plan, but he was quick to say the rest of their current plan is more of a wish list at this point. Much of what they can do will be determined by the costs involved. Nevertheless, school officials did map out a number of additional features they would like to have if possible.
He described some of the aesthetics they would like such as high-end fencing and a brick wall with a facade that fits in with the school and St. Bernard’s church nearby.
“This is going to be one of the most visible spots in the entire city. So, we want to make sure that it’s a five-star look for the community and for our kids,” he said.
He said they envisioned a plaza area in the back of the field. It could include a serpentine wall with steps up to the Lincoln playground. The wall could be used for an outside classroom experience or other uses.
Also on the wishlist is a fieldhouse and fitness center for student athletes to use year ‘round. Brewer noted that if the fieldhouse became a reality it would not include a locker room for any one sport. He said he would want the space to be inclusive for all teams.
The space also could be used for physical education classes for all grade levels, he said.
Timeline
The project is in very early stages, and plans are still being made. More information and details will unfold, once bids go out. The plan is to continue to work on the plans and send them out for a bid in mid-January. If all goes well, the Dayton community could have a new athletic field by sometime in 2025.