AHS practice fields, softball diamond near completion

By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger

DAVENPORT — Weather pending, Assumption High School sports complex phase one should be complete in April.

Andy Craig, the school’s president, said good weather this past fall helped contractors get a lot of work done. “They were able to work into the first week of December,” he noted. Sporadic work continued as milder weather in December allowed.

Phase one includes two multi-purpose fields, a softball diamond and parking. One of the two multi-purpose fields and the softball diamond are nearly complete. All fields will have field turf, which is a synthetic turf made with fibers of crushed tires and sand. “It’s not Astroturf or grass.” Craig said it is the same material used at Brady Street Stadium in Davenport where Assumption plays its home football games and some other games. Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., also uses field turf.

Because of weather, turf was not laid on the other multi-purpose field before the end of the year.

All fields will be used by Assumption High School and St. Ambrose University. The multi-purpose fields can be used as practice fields for football, soccer, marching band and more, Craig said. The parking lot has a hard surface right now, but will not be completed until spring. One reason is because of ongoing construction, with equipment driving on top. Another reason is weather.

Minor issues have come up, but nothing that has stopped work on the project. Craig said phase one is pretty true to its original design. But one field might be shifted a few feet, one way or another.

Although the project did not require approval of the Davenport City Council, Assumption High School is required to submit plans and gain permits for work to be done.

One issue that was a big concern for residents pertains to water and sewer. Craig said the permit that deals with storm water issues was accepted by the city. The project provides for a storm water retention plan, filter system and drainage.

Assumption has also given permission for right of way use for work the city needs to do. One example is a new relief sewer line. Craig said it will be located by the Western Avenue alley. The fields will not be torn up, but the work will be done on Assumption property. Eventually the line will tie into the Duck Creek sewer line. “It’s all in the city’s hands,” Craig said.

Phase one is expected to cost about $5 million. A starting date and details for phase two haven’t been decided. “We anticipate that to be in 2017. We need to get this project up and running first.”