Post by jonsdigs on Jan 28, 2009 18:33:57 GMT -5
Booster Stadium ready for fall play
With the sinkholes filled, workers also upgraded stands, added walkways.
1/26/09
By Joe Callahan
Ocala Star-Banner
January 26, 2009
Booster Stadium, the home of the Vanguard High football and soccer teams, has been finally restored, five months after sinkholes opened up on the 35-yard line in August in the wake of Tropical Storm Fay.
The sinkholes, which also meandered under the visitor's stands, ended home games for both football and soccer, as well as forced booster clubs to become gypsy hawkers at makeshift home games around Marion County.
"There's no doubt that we're excited," Vanguard Principal Rick Lankford said, adding the stands were upgraded to meet guidelines for those with physical disabilities.
Even walkways were added to make it easier to get around the stadium, he said.
Robert Knight, the School District's supervisor of facilities, told the School Board that the field is ready for the 2009 football and soccer seasons this fall.
Chuck Stegal, a School District safety inspector in the risk management office, said the final repair cost was $190,000, about $14,000 less than some estimates.
After several months of below-average rainfall over the summer, Tropical Storm Fay dumped several inches of rain on the area in late August, causing sinkholes to form.
Stegal said one sinkhole opened up along the 35-yard line and another near the visitor stands. Risk management officials said that cavern spread up under the stands.
Officials filled the caverns with a concrete slurry after months of geological surveys aimed at identifying all problem areas.
They wanted to make sure the stands were safe for fans.
Full Story
With the sinkholes filled, workers also upgraded stands, added walkways.
1/26/09
By Joe Callahan
Ocala Star-Banner
January 26, 2009
Booster Stadium, the home of the Vanguard High football and soccer teams, has been finally restored, five months after sinkholes opened up on the 35-yard line in August in the wake of Tropical Storm Fay.
The sinkholes, which also meandered under the visitor's stands, ended home games for both football and soccer, as well as forced booster clubs to become gypsy hawkers at makeshift home games around Marion County.
"There's no doubt that we're excited," Vanguard Principal Rick Lankford said, adding the stands were upgraded to meet guidelines for those with physical disabilities.
Even walkways were added to make it easier to get around the stadium, he said.
Robert Knight, the School District's supervisor of facilities, told the School Board that the field is ready for the 2009 football and soccer seasons this fall.
Chuck Stegal, a School District safety inspector in the risk management office, said the final repair cost was $190,000, about $14,000 less than some estimates.
After several months of below-average rainfall over the summer, Tropical Storm Fay dumped several inches of rain on the area in late August, causing sinkholes to form.
Stegal said one sinkhole opened up along the 35-yard line and another near the visitor stands. Risk management officials said that cavern spread up under the stands.
Officials filled the caverns with a concrete slurry after months of geological surveys aimed at identifying all problem areas.
They wanted to make sure the stands were safe for fans.Full Story
