Watertown School Board approves plan to seek bids for new track, football field (Audio)

May 9, 2022
MIke Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–Nothing is official yet, but the Watertown School Board has taken a step forward in a plan to update some of the school district’s athletic facilities.

At Monday night’s school board meeting, they voted unanimously to seek bids to rebuild the crumbling track at Allen Mitchell Field, and build a new football field inside the track that would feature artificial turf.

Business Manager Heidi Clausen says the estimated cost of “Phase One” as it’s known, is $3.1 million.

Jason Kann with Co-Op Architects told the board this project will need to be on the fast track to get it done this calendar year.

He says the board would need to consider awarding a construction bid next month…

Board Member Jon Iverson has no doubt the track needs to be rebuilt…

The new football field inside the rebuilt track would become the new home of Arrow varsity football games, replacing the aging Watertown Stadium, which Iverson says has also seen its better days…

Under Phase One, the track would be shifted slightly north of where it is now. There would also be a new retaining wall built on the north end of the track and field area, and the existing bleachers would be relocated to the east side of the track.