Fond du Lac schools break ground on new $5.3 million multi-purpose stadium, expected to be completed this year
FOND DU LAC ‒ The Fond du Lac School District held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for its brand new athletic stadium, welcoming the community on what district staff called an important milestone.
The construction of the new stadium will be complete by Aug. 1, in time for the fall sports season. The funding stems from a January 2022 decision by the Fond du Lac School Board to invest $5.3 million to construct a new stadium.
The new stadium will be right next to Fond du Lac High School and will replace Fruth Field on West Ninth Street, where the former Goodrich High School stood before closing in 2001.
Why is the school district building a new field?
The school board has debated building a new facility as far back as 2016, when the board proposed a $2 million project to improve Fruth Field that would have added turf and expanded it to hold soccer matches.
Fruth Field has long been the home for Fond du Lac athletics, but the grass field took a beating from flooding — it is located near the east branch of the Fond du Lac River — and regular wear and tear from both the high school's and St. Mary Springs Academy's football teams.
In 2021, St. Mary Springs Academy built its own $850,000 on-campus turf field, replacing its practice field.
Fond du Lac School Board President Mark Henschel said the flooding concerns were a factor in the district's decision to build the new stadium at the high school.
Arik Gunderson, Fond du Lac High School's athletic director, said the new turf stadium will be a huge change for the district.
In the past, he said heavy rains and inclement weather on the natural grass could lead to games being cancelled because of an unsafe playing field. The artificial turf will better disperse water, creating less flooding and water-logged fields.
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How will the stadium be used?
Although Gunderson said its primary purpose is an athletic facility, the stadium will give "a ton" of opportunities for students at the high school.
Fruth Field was built solely for football, but he said the new facility will allow the school to host other events such as track meets and soccer matches.
Additionally, its location on campus means not only that the school won't have to bus students to and from Fruth Field, but it can also be used for gym classes and by the school's marching band.
"Our multipurpose field will be used for more than just athletics," Henschel said.
How is the stadium being financed?
From its vote in 2022, the board decided to commit up to $5.3 million from the District's fund balance, but the district also said some money is coming from other donors.
Gunderson said he is excited to see the rest of the community at the new stadium for the first football game this fall, and said it will be nice to welcome the community to the campus.
Henschel believes that investment in the district is good not just for the schools, but for the community. The school will be able to host more events, and the brand new facility can help draw families to the school district.
"Our community has a lot to offer and this project will be one more resource to draw people to Fond du Lac," Henschel said.
What is next for Fruth Field?
The field, which is owned by the Fond du Lac School District, was originally shared between St. Mary's Springs Academy and Fond du Lac High and will soon have no permanent tenants.
But it won't be the end of Fruth Field being useful, Henschel said. Access to the field by the community was previously limited because of the need to keep up the grass. Without the schools, Henschel said the field can be used more by the community and the district's community partners.
Contact Bremen Keasey at 920-570-5614 or bkeasey@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Keasinho.
This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: New $5.3 million athletic stadium underway at Fond du Lac High School
