FLINT – Sometimes you have to make a mess in order to make some improvements. If you could look inside Flint’s Atwood Stadium, you may not like what you see right now.
Kettering University bought Atwood Stadium a year and a half ago and promised to make improvements. The university is taking a big step forward with the removal of the artificial turf on the playing field.
A pile of asphalt that laid under the turf at Atwood is being removed so contractors can install a better drainage system before the arrival of the new turf.
“It’s the same field turf that you see at the Big House in Ann Arbor,” said Jack Stock, of Kettering University external relations department.
When Kettering bought Atwood, the plan was to make it available for more than football games and concerts. That’s the idea behind making the field wider.
“All along, we’ve hoped to be able to expand this to lacrosse and soccer. That’s going to be the case as well,” Stock said.
When the fifth Annual Atwood Road Race is held this summer, the course will change a little because of the work being done on the field.
“We’re going to open up the top of the stadium July 18 so folks can get a view from above. So if you participate in the race, you’re going to have a special sneak peak,” Stock said.
All this work is going to take money. Kettering is trying to raise more than $2 million for the turf and other improvements.
“We’ve still got some work to do quite frankly and we’re still asking folks in the community to help support the stadium revitalization,” Stock said.
In addition to high school football teams, intramural teams from Kettering plan to use the stadium for a variety of sports when the work is done.
Original Article by Randy Conat for abc12
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