Posted: Jan. 26, 2010

Greendale — Money may be tight, but Greendale school officials have unveiled a long-range plan for its buildings and grounds, including athletic facilities.

However, the report from Brian Koffarnus, the school district's director of buildings, grounds and food service, did not ask the School Board to consider funding any athletic facility upgrades.

Like most Wisconsin school districts, Greendale is looking at budget cuts - school officials later this year want to make reductions in the neighborhood of $600,000.

Baseball field

But when money does become available, through private donations or other funding sources, the high school baseball diamond would be first in line for improvements.

The outfield sustains more wear and tear than usual because youth football teams use it as a practice field, Koffarnus said. The new field layout and long-range plan would mean the outfield would not be needed as a football practice field.

Maintenance workers continue to repair the field every year but it is overdue for some improvements, having not been upgraded for 14 years, Koffarnus said.

"Every year, it gets worse and worse," he said.

The total estimated cost for a new, reoriented baseball diamond would be about $850,000, a figure that includes all the accessories such as lighting, a new backstop, fencing, bleachers and dugouts.

Football field

District officials would also like to see football facility improvements at Gavinski Field, including more bleacher seating, a new concession stand, a bigger press box and a field lighting upgrade.

While most projects have a six-figure price tag attached to it, Gavinski Field has provided some payback.

The field's artificial turf has started generating revenue, Koffarnus said. Several groups have used the field due to the turf and the stadium has also been the site of many high school football playoff games.

Non-athletic facilities

While athletic facilities were one aspect of the report to School Board members, officials identified other projects throughout the district they would like to tackle in 2010, such as new middle school lockers and some roofing upgrades.

The School Board will review specific proposals later this year before approving the budget. District administrators will come back with some early recommendations later this winter or in early spring, Superintendent William Hughes said.

Cutting costs through energy savings is central to the district's blueprint for buildings and grounds. About $78,000 was put back into the budget through controlling energy usage, and officials have also secured grant funding to help save utility costs, Koffarnus said.

School Board President Thomas Slota said he was glad to see the school district still planning for future projects despite the budget crunch.

"The mark of a really good school district is you don't just try to tread water in bad economic times, you actually try to advance," he said.