News
ENLARGE
A very exciting project is about to get underway in Grand Junction.
Immediately following this year's Junior College (JUCO) World Series at the beginning of June, work will begin on the renovation of the Stocker Stadium/Suplizio Field complex in Lincoln Park. This complex has been a community icon and family gathering spot for nearly 60 years.
On a personal note, my family has been a part of three generations that have played baseball at the collegiate level at the facility over the years. There are certainly others that we have all read about in this community who have experienced the same. It has provided a home for numerous community events from football games and track and field events to the Fourth of July fireworks and graduations, and of course, the JUCO World Series. It really is Grand Junction's gathering place and a lot of happy memories have been created there for thousands of people.
Although this complex has served the community well, the time is right to take it to the next level. The JUCO Committee (Grand Junction Baseball, Inc.) recently presented the City of Grand Junction an opportunity to complete the renovation at a much reduced cost — nearly half of what original estimates showed just a few years back. This $8.3 million project will serve as an economic stimulus for our community and will create jobs at a time when they are so very needed.
Partnerships are a key component of what makes this community the great place it is and this project is just one on a long list of successful partnership ventures in Grand Junction. The City and the JUCO Committee are joined in this partnership by School District 51 and Mesa State College because we all see the long-term benefit of this project for all. Each partner has been at the table helping to plan this project to make sure that all interests are considered.
In addition to our community partners, the project team is being led by FCI and Sink Combs Dethlefs. Other project partners include Austin Civil Group, Bighorn Engineering, Sequent, Current Solutions, Duray Duncan Industries, Home Loan and Investment Co., and Lindauer Dunn, Inc. I am also pleased to report that due to FCI's diligence on focusing on local subcontracting, 86% of our subcontractors on this job are from here.
While this project will create some short-term inconvenience, it will be well worth it in terms of what will ultimately be a long-term benefit for the whole community. Notable improvements to the complex as part of this project will include:
• New stands/seating for baseball along the first base line
• New stands/seating for football along the east side of the football field
• New concession stands and restrooms at ground level beneath the new football/baseball stands
• New elevator-equipped handicapped seating for both sides, located above and between the football and baseball seating areas
• New elevated dual-sided press box
• New elevated enclosed hospitality suite
• New dugouts for the baseball field
In addition to the scope of this project, JUCO is looking at replacing the outfield fence, upgrading the football scoreboard and will see that a temporary press box is constructed on the west side of Stocker Stadium. They will be doing this independent of this project, and all combined will create great amenities in concert with the renovation of the complex.
If more external grants and donations can be raised beyond what we currently have available, additional restroom and concession amenities will be added to the project. These will be added only if funding is secured. Without the additional funds, the project will proceed as shown in the plans.
In order to fund the project and for JUCO to commit to ongoing debt payments, a 25-year commitment was needed from the National Junior College Committee to continue to bring the JUCO World Series here. The ability of JUCO to pick up a greater portion of the ongoing debt payment allowed us to bond the project. Along with JUCO we have other financial partners and are waiting to hear from others who have expressed interest in being a part of the project.
Those that have committed to the project so far:
• Certificate of Participation proceeds (bonds issued by the City): $7.5 million
• JUCO Committee: $300,000 annually (will be used for bond repayment)
• State of Colorado lottery proceeds: $230,777 annually (will be used for bond repayment)
• Grand Junction Parks Improvement Advisory Board: $250,000
• Community partners: $200,000
• Grand Junction Lions Club: $25,000
As mentioned above, the groundbreaking is slated to occur right after the conclusion of the 2011 JUCO World Series this June and we are anticipating a project completion date in early 2012. When complete, this will be a project that everyone in the community can be proud of.
Immediately following this year's Junior College (JUCO) World Series at the beginning of June, work will begin on the renovation of the Stocker Stadium/Suplizio Field complex in Lincoln Park. This complex has been a community icon and family gathering spot for nearly 60 years.
On a personal note, my family has been a part of three generations that have played baseball at the collegiate level at the facility over the years. There are certainly others that we have all read about in this community who have experienced the same. It has provided a home for numerous community events from football games and track and field events to the Fourth of July fireworks and graduations, and of course, the JUCO World Series. It really is Grand Junction's gathering place and a lot of happy memories have been created there for thousands of people.
Although this complex has served the community well, the time is right to take it to the next level. The JUCO Committee (Grand Junction Baseball, Inc.) recently presented the City of Grand Junction an opportunity to complete the renovation at a much reduced cost — nearly half of what original estimates showed just a few years back. This $8.3 million project will serve as an economic stimulus for our community and will create jobs at a time when they are so very needed.
Partnerships are a key component of what makes this community the great place it is and this project is just one on a long list of successful partnership ventures in Grand Junction. The City and the JUCO Committee are joined in this partnership by School District 51 and Mesa State College because we all see the long-term benefit of this project for all. Each partner has been at the table helping to plan this project to make sure that all interests are considered.
In addition to our community partners, the project team is being led by FCI and Sink Combs Dethlefs. Other project partners include Austin Civil Group, Bighorn Engineering, Sequent, Current Solutions, Duray Duncan Industries, Home Loan and Investment Co., and Lindauer Dunn, Inc. I am also pleased to report that due to FCI's diligence on focusing on local subcontracting, 86% of our subcontractors on this job are from here.
While this project will create some short-term inconvenience, it will be well worth it in terms of what will ultimately be a long-term benefit for the whole community. Notable improvements to the complex as part of this project will include:
• New stands/seating for baseball along the first base line
• New stands/seating for football along the east side of the football field
• New concession stands and restrooms at ground level beneath the new football/baseball stands
• New elevator-equipped handicapped seating for both sides, located above and between the football and baseball seating areas
• New elevated dual-sided press box
• New elevated enclosed hospitality suite
• New dugouts for the baseball field
In addition to the scope of this project, JUCO is looking at replacing the outfield fence, upgrading the football scoreboard and will see that a temporary press box is constructed on the west side of Stocker Stadium. They will be doing this independent of this project, and all combined will create great amenities in concert with the renovation of the complex.
If more external grants and donations can be raised beyond what we currently have available, additional restroom and concession amenities will be added to the project. These will be added only if funding is secured. Without the additional funds, the project will proceed as shown in the plans.
In order to fund the project and for JUCO to commit to ongoing debt payments, a 25-year commitment was needed from the National Junior College Committee to continue to bring the JUCO World Series here. The ability of JUCO to pick up a greater portion of the ongoing debt payment allowed us to bond the project. Along with JUCO we have other financial partners and are waiting to hear from others who have expressed interest in being a part of the project.
Those that have committed to the project so far:
• Certificate of Participation proceeds (bonds issued by the City): $7.5 million
• JUCO Committee: $300,000 annually (will be used for bond repayment)
• State of Colorado lottery proceeds: $230,777 annually (will be used for bond repayment)
• Grand Junction Parks Improvement Advisory Board: $250,000
• Community partners: $200,000
• Grand Junction Lions Club: $25,000
As mentioned above, the groundbreaking is slated to occur right after the conclusion of the 2011 JUCO World Series this June and we are anticipating a project completion date in early 2012. When complete, this will be a project that everyone in the community can be proud of.
