The Fond du Lac (Wis.) school district has broken ground on a $5.3 million athletic stadium.
The Fond du Lac Reporter says construction of the stadium will be complete by Aug. 1, in time for the fall sports season.
The facility will be erected next to Fond du Lac High School and will replace Fruth Field, where the former Goodrich High School stood before closing in 2001.
The school board has debated building a new stadium as far back as 2016.
Fruth Field has long been the home for Fond du Lac athletics, but the grass field took a beating from flooding — it is near the east branch of the Fond du Lac River — and regular wear and tear; Fond du Lac shared the field with St. Mary Springs Academy's football teams.
In 2021, St. Mary Springs Academy built its own $850,000 on-campus turf field, replacing its practice field.
Arik Gunderson, Fond du Lac High School's athletic director, says the new turf stadium will be a huge change for the district.
In the past, he said, heavy rains and inclement weather led to unsafe playing fields and canceled games.
Fruth Field was built solely for football, but the new facility will enable the school to host other events such as track meets and soccer matches.
Additionally, its location on campus means it can also be used for gym classes and by the school's marching band.
