Friends of Harmon Field looks to new track, football field

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GREENVILLE — At an informational meeting held Sunday, area residents learned about progress being made on a plan to improve Greenville Schools’ outdoor athletic facilities.

Members of the Friends of Harmon Field, a private group seeking to renovate or rebuild Harmon Field, located at Greenville High School, reported that Phase 1 of its four-part plan is almost ready to commence.

Mike Henderson, group member and an architect with Mote & Associates, told those assembled, “We’re at the point where we can actually begin Phase 1 and 2, hopefully.”

Phase 1, he explained, involves moving the six-lane track from its current location surrounding the football field, to a location north of the current field. Further, the new track would feature eight lanes, which is the standard for high school tracks.

“The tracks today, to meet most of the standards and to have the space that we need, won’t fit [in the current configuration]. With eight lanes the track meets can be shorter,” Henderson said.

Featured within the new track would be a natural grass soccer field as well as space to host other track and field events, such as high jump and discus.

The space between the two fields would be the location of a new fieldhouse, if all goes according to plan. It would contain locker rooms, restrooms and the concession stand.

“If you had two smaller events going on during the week, you could have those split, and the concession could serve both sides,” he said.

As well, the group would like to see construction of a driveway between the two fields large enough to accommodate fire trucks and ambulances. The new track complex will also feature bleachers on the west side with a press box.

Friends of Harmon Field will soon select a design-build team experienced in athletic facilities construction to begin the final design portion of Phase 1.

“Our goal would be to have the [new] track in this summer, and the football field as well,” he said. “We do have enough funds to get through the track piece.”

The estimated cost for the new track is $1.3 million. An additional $1 million will be needed to renovate the football field.

Ideally, the group hopes to rebuild the football stadium in its entirety, making it a better experience for spectators as well as ADA-compliant. Completing all goals for Harmon Field is expected to cost $5 million.

“Anybody that comes to Greenville says we need new stadium seats, we need new restroom facilities, locker rooms, and so forth,” said Henderson. “We realize that. We would love to have that first, but just the fact that we need to move the track, we really can’t get the improvements in place until we get the track out of the way.”

For more information on the Harmon Field project, or to donate, visit the Friends of Harmon Field Facebook page, go to www.friendsofharmonfield.com, or email [email protected].

Friends of Harmon Field committee member Mike Henderson shows a preliminary plan for the renovation of Greenville’s Harmon Field athletic facilities. The group hopes to have a new eight-lane track completed by this summer.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_FoHF-0009-PRINT.jpgFriends of Harmon Field committee member Mike Henderson shows a preliminary plan for the renovation of Greenville’s Harmon Field athletic facilities. The group hopes to have a new eight-lane track completed by this summer. Erik Martin | The Daily Advocate
$1.3 million cost for new 8-lane track

By Erik Martin

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The writer may be reached at 937-569-4314. Join the conversation and get updates on Facebook search Darke County Sports or Advocate 360. For more features online go to dailyadvocate.com

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