A proposed indoor athletic facility for the Mid-Prairie Community School District needs school board approval before moving forward. Lacking adequate practice space the school district, in cooperation with the Nitro softball and Bulltown Baseball teams, proposed constructing an indoor multi-purpose facility which could be used as practice space for baseball, softball, golf, soccer, track, football and other activities during winter months or inclement weather.

On last week’s PM Sports Page, Mid-Prairie Athletic Director Steve Hollan talked about the need for the additional complex, “The minute the gym opens up in the morning at 6 o’clock until the lights go off at 9 or 10 o’clock at night it is in constant use.” Hollan said, “We had some local parents involved in the Bulltown baseball and the Nitro softball teams who got together and wanted to change this.”

Hollan added the Washington Community School’s indoor hitting facility was used as a guide for their project and the design exploded. The price to construct this building is estimated at $425,000. Hollan states $385,000 has been accounted for thanks to a $200,000 Washington County Riverboat Grant, $75,000 contributed by the Mid-Prairie School District, $10,000 from the Mid-Prairie Athletic Boosters, and the rest collected via private donations.

Hollan says this is a benefit for more than just the Golden Hawk athletic teams, “Even the marching band can go out and use it.” Hollan said, “Instead of going out and marching on wet, dewy grass in the mornings they can go in the facility and use it so they can still see where lines and do the formations they need to.”

The proposed facility will be built behind the high school. An old storage facility by the baseball field is being torn down, and the ground will be leveled to build the 96 feet by 162 feet facility. The inside the building will be a 90 foot long three lane track for athletes to work on sprints and hurdles, a loft area to use for hitting golf balls, and three batting cages on a turf field which can be used for soccer practice as well.

A special presentation on the indoor facility will be held at tonight’s bi-monthly meeting of the Mid-Prairie School Board, set to begin at 7 p.m. inside the high school Llibrary in Wellman.