Fox C-6 School District officials have agreed to spend a total of $594,120 to renovate Fox High School’s shared baseball and softball field in Arnold and to close a lagoon in accordance with state regulations and law at its Seckman schools campus in Imperial.
Board of Education members recently awarded a $349,000 contract to ATG Sports Industries of Festus for the field renovations and a $245,120 contract to Midwest Utility Contracting LLC of Cedar Hill for the lagoon project.
ATG Sports submitted the lowest of two bids for the Fox High project, and Midwest Utility Contracting submitted the only bid for the lagoon closure project. Board members voted unanimously on Jan. 13 to approve the two contracts.
Last year, the Fox district hired ATG Sports to renovate the Seckman High School baseball and softball field. That project cost the district $463,374.
Field renovations
Fox C-6 chief operating officers Tracy Schmidt said approximately 26,992 square feet of infield turf will be replaced at Fox High, 751 Jeffco Blvd. He said the last time the turf was replaced was in 2013.
He also said the project calls for the replacement of a 15-by-17-foot Warriors logo behind home plate and the installation of a new backstop with wall padding, a pitching mat for softball and a four-pole netting system.
The district also will add more netting along the fence line, and the current fencing on the dugouts will be replaced with new netting and a padded railing.
The home and visiting teams’ bullpens also will get new turf; pitching mounds and rubbers; and home plates.
“The new facility will be a shining focal point on the Fox High School campus,” Schmidt said of the campus that includes Fox Middle and Elementary schools. “Synthetic turf in the current environment is light years ahead in comparison to turf laid in 2013, which should provide a more consistent playing surface for our student-athletes. The new turf field, backstop and dugouts will provide a safe and supportive environment for our students, while also offering an aesthetically pleasing view and sight lines for our spectators.
“The field also supports physical education classes for all three schools on campus, as well as districtwide events for our middle school and elementary schools.”
On Jan. 13, Schmidt told board members that work on Fox High’s field will begin in late May, after the baseball season ends. The Warriors are scheduled to play their last home baseball game on May 14.
He also said the work is expected to be finished near the end of July, leaving plenty of time before the fall softball season is scheduled to start.
Lagoon
Schmidt said the lagoon has not been used since 1997, and the project to close it needs to be completed to comply with Missouri Department of Natural Resources regulations and applicable state law.
He said the project entails draining the lagoon; installing a silt fence; building rock checks for silt prevention; removing existing concrete, piping and baffles; and collapsing the dams and berms.
He also said the earth must be graded, and then the area must be seeded and covered with straw.
Schmidt said the work is expected to start March 1 and be finished this year.
“I have been in contact with the representative from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and we are working on a timeline to also plan an extension for the work to be completed,” he said. “Winter weather is always unpredictable, and the district is committed to completing this project in 2026.
“Permits will need to be secured by Midwest Utility Contracting, in addition to working with several state agencies to ensure the compliance of the project meets all regulations.”
Schmidt said there will be minimal traffic on the Seckman campus, which is home to a high, middle and elementary school. The school year is scheduled to end May 22.
“The majority of the construction and physical site work will occur after the last day of school for the 2025-26 school year,” he said.