Lion Pride Restoration Project picture page

Lion Pride Restoration Project (page 1 of 2; updated 8/14/03)

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Missouri Southern's effort to replace the artificial football playing surface and the running track at Fred G. Hughes Stadium became a reality in April. In late March, the Board of Regents approved awarding the contract to Sprinturf for the replacement of the artificial turf. In April, the Board then approved awarding a contract to Beynon Sports Surfaces for a new track. Sprinturf installs an artificial surface with a ground rubber infill and has its product currently in use on football playing surfaces at the University of Montana and at Youngstown State University (Ohio), among several others. Beynon, which will install a full-pore track surface, similar to ones the company has installed at the University of North Carolina, the University of Tulsa, and James Madison University. Plus, Missouri Southern's indoor track in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is a Beynon product.

Groundbreaking 4/30/03		 4/30/03
Head coaches Bill Cooke (football), Patty Vavra (women's track & cross country) and Tom Rutledge (men's track & cross country), along with MSSC President Dr. Julio S. Leon, participated in groundbreaking ceremonies at Fred G. Hughes Stadium on April 30.
Some of the turf had already been pulled up at the groundbreaking festivities on April 30.



5/5/03 Moving the Lights
Work began in earnest on May 5 at the stadium and much of the old turf had been removed by mid-afternoon.
Crews were removing the current light standards on May 15. The old light standards will be replaced by single light poles and moved back from their original placement.
5/23/03 5/28/03
The asphalt that lied beneath the former turf was being ground up and removed on May 23. On May 28, workers were excavating the surface, preparing for the drainage system and aggregate to go in place.
6/9/03 6/18/03-1
Water lines and electrical conduit were being placed at the stadium on June 9. Water lines will now be located inside of the track surface. The electrical conduit contains communications lines and electronic timing means for track. Concrete shafts were constructed to serve as an inner base for the new light standards.
6/18/03-2 6/18/03-3
Workers begin erecting the first of the four new light standards
in place at the stadium.		 The above photo illustrates the light standard being placed over the concrete base.
6/18/03-4 6/19/03
One of the two new light standards on the main grandstand side of the stadium. The new lights are moved back from the location of the previous standards. Two other light standards are in place on the opposite side of the stadium. Not only is work underway on the Southern football field, it has also begun on the track surface. Here, a milling machine grinds up the old track surface in preparation for a new all-weather surface from Beynon Sports Surfaces.
6/24-1 6/24/-2
On June 24, Geotech fabric and sub-surface drainage lines were being installed on the stadium floor. The fabric separates the soil from the drainage system. The drainage lines will eventually extend to the edge of the track. Another view of the Geotech fabric being placed at the stadium.


6/26/03 7/2/03
The first of three layers of rock was put into place and leveled
on June 26. A laser placed beneath the scoreboard controls the leveling by a bulldozer.		 Workers excavated the east side of the stadium to level it with the rest.
Some photographs previously found on this page have been moved to Page 2 to decrease file size. To view them, please go to page 2.