l-r Brad Johnson Vice President Prince George Minor Football and  Rob Sherlock, President of  Prince George Minor Football Association  look  at  plan – photos 250News

Prince George, B.C.- Public reaction to the plans to upgrade  Masich  Stadium in Prince George  seem  positive.

The $4.2 million dollar project will see the 26 year old facility undergo some major improvements including a new  synthetic infield,  consolidated jumps area,  permanent throwing facilities and cages, track resurfacing  and some trail development.  (full plan can be accessed by clicking  here or on  smaller image at right.)

Brad Beckett,  Manager of Community Partnerships for the City  says  response to the  concept design  has been positive “Definitely for the 2017 construction, I think everyone’s really excited about the track being improved and the new infield as well.”

That new  infield  will be  made of synthetic turf  as the current  natural turf  needs to be totally redone  and reseeding  isn’t a viable option “It’s kind of spending good money after bad” says Beckett “Types of use that happen in the infield, it just tears it  ( natural turf)  up.  With our cold winters and   it just doesn’t work well with some of the late season type sports like football, so  the artificial  turf will be much better for early spring use and late fall use  and maximizing the facility as a whole.”

Beckett says the synthetic turf  should  mean increased revenues “Just  in the amount of use,   we’re going to be able to have earlier starts in the spring and  it can be used later in the fall, plus, we can go back to back to back  with events which  we can’t with natural grass.”

The initial design underwent some  adjustments  as the  areas initially proposed for  shot put and javelin  were then moved closer to the south parking lot  so spectators  can have a better view.

Project  Manager is Alan Clark,  he says  final design  drawings should be ready to have the project  out for tender  either late this fall, or early  in the new year.  He says  construction  will likely start in the spring of 2017  “Basically  we are anticipating construction to begin  right after the  Relay for Life ( in May)  and then it will be up to the contractor on what work is scheduled .”   It is hoped the work can be completed in the fall of 2017.

The  costs of the upgrades are being covered by $775 thousand from the City,  $3.2 million from the  Federal Government’s gas tax fund ,  and $250 thousand from Northern Development Initiative Trust.

Having a  new facility will go a long way towards  Prince George landing some major sporting events and those events can boost the local economy.

The City will look at  other possible upgrades in the future including  improvements to the grandstand.