Lake Michigan College is rebuilding its athletic fields.
LMC Vice President of Advancement and Community Impact Doug Schaffer tells us the board of trustees approved the project on Wednesday.
“We’re very excited for the opportunity to build first-class athletic facilities for our student-athletes and the community to enjoy, and we’re starting with the full reconstruction of the baseball and softball fields and the soccer fields to serve those sports and provide enhanced recreational and fitness opportunities for our general students as well,” Schaffer said.
Schaffer says the project is the result of near constant flooding on the fields, which has often prevented LMC teams from being able to compete on their home fields. He says they often have to rent out facilities from nearby high schools.
The estimated cost of the project is $6.3 million.
“Which is to remove all of the existing fields and then do the drainage and soil work and then finally rebuild the fields again with turf on all three facilities.”
Schaffer says the fields will get a new drainage system and their level will be raised through the use of top soil.
Work could start this summer, and it’s hoped the new softball and baseball fields will be ready by the new season in the spring. The soccer fields won’t be ready until the fall of 2025, so LMC soccer will be played at a different location next year.
Schaffer says the volleyball and disc golf courts will be relocated, and trail access will be maintained during the project.
