The West Central Valley Wildcats will soon have a new home after the board of education recently approved plans and awarded a contract for the new athletic field complex.

The new site will include regulation softball and baseball diamonds, a 1,000 seat stadium and a synthetic turf playing field which will serve both football and soccer activities.  There will also be an all-weather track, a regulation sized soccer and football practice field, along with several new parking areas, more than adequate restroom facilities and new concession stands.

West Central Valley Schools Superintendent David Arnold, says the project has been divided into 3 phases.  A contract for phase 1 has been awarded to Hellas Construction from Austin Texas.  Their bid was one of four received by the district, coming in at $1,760,000.  Arnold says Hellas’ bid was below the project estimate and because it’s a reputable company with an impressive resume, including work on the Dallas Cowboy’s field, the district felt they were the best choice.

Phase 1 includes all of the grading work, infrastructure such as drains, piping, parking, and turf field installation. Phase 2 and 3 will be bid at the same time in late September, with the bid opening being set for October 16.

Superintendent Arnold says they anticipate the football team will be able to play on the new field starting next fall, with the softball and baseball teams utilizing the new fields starting in the spring of 2014.

Arnold says residents in the school district will not see an increase in their property taxes, as the project is being paid for through sales tax dollars.