comprehensive stormwater plans ensure the fields will drain quickly after heavy rain events.

the west liberty community school district (wlcsd) selected feh design and snyder & associates to prepare an athletic facility plan to consolidate their football, soccer, track, baseball, and softball facilities in one location south of the high school. for many years, west liberty held high school sports activities at various sites around their district. they needed help prioritizing the desired improvements and providing construction budgeting for the proposed projects. the snyder & associates design team assisted in preparing an analysis, preliminary design and programming, and construction budget estimates, allowing the school district to organize a promotional campaign to raise funds and solicit donations.

the school district also wanted to explore synthetic turf surfacing for the football/soccer field and both the baseball and softball fields, aiming for the highest level of service, ease of maintenance, and player safety. based on our extensive experience with specialty sports surfaces, our team selected various products and explained the intricate differences to district staff, ultimately leading to using a fieldturf® product. our design team also prepared enhanced stormwater modeling and design to provide the necessary stormwater infrastructure to improve the drainage of the surrounding site.

design incorporates collegiate-level amenities

the new football field and track facility provide collegiate-level amenities for the athletes and fans. (image courtesy of wlcsd)

currently nearing 90% completion, the new sports complex includes three synthetic turf fields (football/soccer, baseball, and softball), with stadium bleachers at all three locations. a new, eight-lane, all-weather track surrounds the football field, and an expansive restroom/concession building was centrally located to serve all spectators. the new baseball and softball facilities include all the amenities one would expect in a collegiate-level facility, including batting cages, bullpens, press boxes, comfortable dugouts, and customized netting backstops. nylon netting backstops are a popular alternative to typical chain-link options and offer high uv protection and weather treatment for extra durability and longevity.

expansive concourse areas, connected by wide sidewalks, were used at the entrance and near the concession building and ball fields. these features address a key goal of the district to make accessibility to all fields and areas of the complex seamless for users of all abilities. the wide sidewalks also help to handle large crowds moving through the complex.

in realizing the vision for an integrated and state-of-the-art athletic complex, the west liberty community school district, in partnership with feh design and snyder & associates, has remarkably consolidated multiple venues. by centralizing football, soccer, track, baseball, and softball facilities into one cohesive location, the district has improved the level of service for athletes and spectators and significantly prioritized player safety. this transformative project embodies a unified vision of athletic excellence and community accessibility, elevating the sporting experience for generations.

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the school district’s new football stadium was the catalyst project that has driven the construction of several other athletic facilities, including the new ballfields.

the gilbert community school district provides its small but growing community with top-notch educational facilities. to match this offering, the district has also steadily upgraded its athletic facilities to provide students with spaces that enable top performance and promote school pride. the athletic facilities professionals with snyder & associates have been active with many of these projects, including the recent design and construction of new baseball, softball, and practice fields south of the existing football stadium complex on a vacant site. an all-purpose storage building for holding athletic and maintenance equipment was also included in the design.

all three new fields utilize the existing entry plaza at the southwest corner of the football stadium. the main walkway running north and south between the ballfields doubles as a driveway to access each field and the storage building. the pavement along this route was poured to a depth of 6″ to support heavy equipment that may need to access the area. conveniently, all utilities were routed adjacent to this main walkway to connect to the field areas.

vacant location provides space for modern ballfield amenities

one of the main advantages of designing a field at a new location was the opportunity to work from a blank slate. this afforded the designers the space to add all the amenities you’d expect at modern ballfields.

this state-of-the-art complex has spacious, above-ground dugouts at baseball and softball fields. the backstops have a safety netting and padding system, while the outfield fences sport much-needed windscreens to minimize the impact of the gusty iowa winds. an expansive concrete concourse surrounds the backstop of both fields to provide better fan access and access to the new concession/restroom building. each field also received a new scoreboard and pro-grade lighting systems to illuminate the fields.

other amenities include a press box at each field with raised bleacher systems, a 200-250 seat capacity at the softball field, and a 300-350 seat capacity at the baseball field. the baseball field includes a double bullpen for both the home and visitor sides, while the softball field includes a double bullpen for the home side and a single for the visitors. outdoor batting cages were also added to each field on the home team side.

field treatments & stormwater upgrades minimize rain delay impacts

the softball and baseball fields and the practice field consist of an irrigated, natural athletic turf grass with an underdrain system. the infield construction includes a specialty ballfield aggregate (bryan rock red ball diamond aggregate) on a sand base. red ball diamond aggregate is a finely crushed dolomitic limestone with a natural red color that allows water to pass through it. it will provide years of service with little maintenance required when appropriately applied.

with the addition of so much concrete around the fields, our team also prepared enhanced stormwater modeling and design to provide the necessary stormwater infrastructure. stormwater management encompassing the athletic fields required a new storm sewer system, field drain systems, and sheet flow and infiltration to drain water away from the fields and toward the existing stormwater detention areas. both fields drain into a field under-drain system and a series of collector storm sewer lines. the baseball field outlets are to the northeast, while the softball field outlets are to the west. the interior plaza areas required drainage through several small intakes and drainpipes released into the existing storm management area to the west.

while not immediately constructed, plans included a new storage building and service pad area south of the baseball field. water, electricity, and communication services are planned for this facility through underground channels from the stadium area. this 48′ x 24′ metal building will be designated for athletic storage, irrigation service, and source equipment.

the design and development of the gilbert high school baseball and softball fields have brought to life a first-class venue for athletes and spectators alike. as this proud school district continues to grow, there’s little doubt its athletic program offerings are up to the challenge.

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the new, synthetic playing surface can withstand years of competitive play.

in 2011, the ankeny community school district opened the new ankeny high school near sw magazine road and s ankeny boulevard. two years later, the new ankeny centennial high school building was completed on nw state street, completing the district’s move to a two-high school system. the former high school building would gain a second life as northview middle school and would maintain the home of the district’s football facility, ankeny stadium. going forward, both high schools would share the stadium for football games and other activities.

constructed in 1977, the stadium remained largely unchanged over the years. with the new demands of serving both high school football teams and the sheer growth of the community, however, the snyder & associates team was pegged in 2012 to design and oversee the installation of a competition-level synthetic turf field and bathroom facility upgrades at the stadium. our team oversaw an aggressive construction schedule, and the infrastructure and synthetic turf field were constructed within 12 weeks, one week before the inaugural ankeny versus ankeny centennial varsity football game.

with the two high school arrangements now firmly rooted in the ankeny community, the school district’s field upgrades are regularly meeting the needs of the ever-increasing competition and the demands of a rapidly growing school system.

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the tennis court complex fit seamlessly with the high school’s athletic fields.

the indianola community school district has been in campus upgrade mode for the last decade. guided by an athletics facility master plan, the district has been steadily replacing several aging athletic facilities and providing upgrades at others. the snyder & associates team has been heavily involved in many of these projects, including the site evaluation and construction of a new tennis court complex to serve the district’s high school.

site assessments determine optimal tennis complex location

the school district initially approached our team to conduct site assessments at four locations to evaluate possible sites for the proposed tennis courts. after the evaluations and our team’s recommendation were presented to the school board, we decided to move forward with a twelve-court complex just north of the high school building.

crews prepare the site for the new tennis courts.

twelve regulation tennis courts were designed by our team and sent to bid. however, when bids that exceeded the district’s budget were returned, our team quickly adapted the plan to construct ten courts on the same site and kept the project on schedule. this professional-grade complex included asphalt courts with posts, nets, paint surfacing, and ten-foot-tall, galvanized fencing. electrical service was included in the design to provide court lighting, electrical outlets, and outdoor conduits. a spectator area was designed and constructed between the courts with a concrete apron and bleacher-style seating.

project set-back dealt with quickly

during construction, a small shale was discovered on the surface of the asphalt mix. while seemingly insignificant, if the surface coating had been applied over this imperfection, it could have ruined the court’s playing surface. our team quickly investigated the cause of this problem and determined that while the asphalt mix did meet dot standards, it was not adequate for the court’s surface. after discussions with the contractor and school district personnel, our team provided a solution that included milling a fine asphalt layer from the surface and reapplying a smoother topcoat. this solution allowed the surfacing paint system to be applied in the spring, resulting in no lost practice time for the tennis team.

with many years of high-traffic competition, the tennis courts at indianola high school are performing exceptionally well. our team looks forward to assisting the indianola community school district as its town and district continue to grow.

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when it comes to learning, the environment is everything. for the students at starmont high school, that environment includes a lot of cornfields. located in rural iowa, nearly five miles from the nearest community, starmont high school is between strawberry point, arlington, and lamont. it serves high school-aged students from all three communities.

starmont high school is surrounded by cornfields, with its only neighbor being the dairy farm across the road.

constructed in the late ’70s, a dairy farm directly across the road provided the school’s wastewater services. the dairy farm maintained its operational wastewater lagoon systems for its industrial waste. this arrangement worked well for nearly 43 years until the dairy farm experienced financial hardship, leading to the plant’s imminent closure.

with less than a year to act before their wastewater services were cut off, the high school needed options, and they needed them fast. thanks to past client relationships and positive word-of-mouth recommendations, the team from snyder & associates was brought on board to find a viable wastewater solution for the high school.

potential wastewater treatment options considered

during the initial design phase, our team considered and reviewed various wastewater disposal and treatment options. it was vital for the school’s long-term sustainability to find a solution that could fit within the school’s budget and be completed within the given time restriction.

using trucks to haul the waste to a nearby treatment facility physically was briefly considered a temporary option if necessary. ultimately, the goal was to avoid this situation since costs could quickly accumulate under this scenario. next, our team looked into building force mains to pump wastewater to the closest municipal wastewater facility. the extensive and widespread construction and the numerous easements a project of this scope would require meant this option wasn’t feasible either.

instead of moving the waste, our team began to review on-site alternatives. as the smallest option, a mechanical plant was considered but was eventually ruled out due to the excessive electricity demands it would require and the necessary operator training.

controlling their own fate and wastewater treatment

during our team’s discussions with the starmont superintendent, it was clear he didn’t want to make the same mistake and place the school in a position where they were once again dependent on another organization for their wastewater treatment. at the recommendation of the snyder & associates team, the school board decided to take control of their future and build their own controlled discharge lagoon system.

“if you are a small enough system and have the room, a lagoon system is the best option. it self-disinfects, self-treats, and doesn’t require any power,” states lindsay beaman, pe, business unit leader of snyder & associates’ cedar rapids office.

with the land already available as part of a future farmers of america (ffa) training field, design and construction for the lagoon system began immediately. in short order, three large pits for the lagoons were excavated, and a lift station was assembled for pumping wastewater between lagoons. with this simple solution, the school has ensured its wastewater needs will be met for decades.

comprehensive services provide a quick solution

thanks to the cooperation and quick action from the iowa department of natural resources (dnr) and the project’s contractor, all permitting and construction were completed before the loss of wastewater services from the dairy farm.

“accomplishing as much as we did, as quickly as we did, was a major feat,” explains beaman. “a project similar to this typically takes anywhere from four to five years, and we got it up and running just a year and one month from first being contacted.”

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historic billy sunday field in nevada had long been the home of the high school baseball team. despite its propensity for flooding after heavy rains and its proximity to a busy roadway, the field held fond memories for many community members. due to its shortcomings, however, school leaders recognized that it was time to move on from this storied location. now, after many years in the making, the nevada cubs have a new field to call home just across town at the score recreation athletic complex.

originally designed by snyder & associates over two decades ago, the score complex was already home to numerous athletic venues and an established community draw. with an eye on the future, the design team created a space for this new ball field when the time was right for development. partnering with snyder & associates, school and city leaders found the vision for the new field easy to establish. bringing it to reality, though, took the careful 2022世界杯32强预选赛 of our trusted team of professionals.

infill location provides space for modern baseball amenities

crews begin grading the new field location.

one of the main advantages of designing an athletic field at a new location was the benefit of working from a blank slate. the new field is positioned at the score complex on a vacant piece of ground adjacent to the youth ballparks and just north of the fawcett family aquatic center. this afforded the designers the space to add all of the amenities that’d you’d expect at a modern baseball field. additionally, since the new location is on higher ground compared to billy sunday field, fewer games need to be canceled because of flooding issues and players are able to have more time on the field for practice.

this state-of-the-art baseball complex has spacious, above-ground dugouts with a clubhouse incorporated into the home dugout. the backstop has padding with the nevada high school team logo and colors, while the outfield fence sports a purple windscreen with gold-lettered “nevada cubs baseball” emblazoned in center field.

an expansive concrete concourse area surrounds the backstop area of the field to provide better fan access and support a 400-seat wrap-around bleacher section with a built-in press box. the concourse also provides access to a new concession/restroom building and a batting cage. to welcome visitors to the field, a large synthetic turf home plate emblem with the team logo is positioned in the concourse directly behind the bleachers. the nevada athletic booster club provided the funding for this unique touch.

with the addition of so much concrete, our team also prepared enhanced stormwater modeling and design to provide the necessary stormwater infrastructure. an existing on-site detention basin provided an adequate drainage point. this effort improved the stormwater runoff for the location and the surrounding site.

timing challenges addressed with diligent 2022世界杯32强预选赛

sand is used to backfill the subdrain trench.

of course, none of the new infrastructure could be added until the new field was established first. in order for the field to be ready for play in the spring of 2019, the field had to be seeded in early 2018 with a special turf blend. iowa sports turf management was contracted for this portion of the project. they not only graded and prepared the field for seeding but also installed the infield and outfield irrigation system, subdrain, and constructed the infield in accordance with the plan created by our team.

community leaders, school officials, and players anticipate that fans will quickly embrace the new nevada cubs baseball field. this welcoming and enjoyable facility created by our professional design crew has created a renewed energy in the community for their high school’s baseball team. and much like billy sunday field created memories for past generations of nevada residents, the promise of new memories in this new home is generating an undeniable excitement for players and fans alike.

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much like the materials used to make tennis rackets have changed over the years from wood to graphite, titanium, and other lightweight materials, so has the playing surface of the court itself. originally, grass and clay were the predominant court materials, but for the majority of recreational courts found in parks and sports complexes, asphalt (and to a lesser extent, concrete) often with an acrylic coating, is the go-to surface for durability and long life.

the landscape team at snyder & associates has been designing stand-alone tennis facilities (and as a piece of a park master plan) for many years. even as the popularity of other outdoor recreational opportunities has grown, tennis courts remain as one of the top draws in many parks, sports complexes, and school districts. and because the surfaces for tennis and its companion sport, pickleball, are similar, communities are increasingly requesting tennis courts with dual markings and adjustable nets to render the courts multi-use.

durable & professional results with seasoned sports field designers

outdoor tennis courts are typically constructed on asphalt surfaces with several surface coatings to choose from. engaging an experienced sports field design team, however, is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when considering adding or upgrading an existing tennis court facility.

achieving a professional result is so much more than simply creating a flat slab and adding nets. at a minimum, courts need to have the proper slope and adequate drainage for proper use. if these two critical components aren’t designed correctly, courts can be too steep, or worse, develop standing water after inclement weather. either of these issues will degrade the user experience.

choosing the best surface coating for your unique situation is another decision that a professional sports field design team can help make. numerous coatings are available depending on the variables of your court’s location. most surface coatings are acrylic-based and designed especially for coating asphalt. for outdoor courts, coatings are textured with a smooth and rounded, non-aggressive silica sand. this provides a slip-free surface in wet and dry conditions. options also exist to regulate the amount of cushion in the surface coating to help reduce player fatigue.

project sampling of snyder & associates-designed courts & sports complexes

doanes park

doanes park complex

in 2013, snyder & associates was approached by leaders from the pleasant hill parks & recreation department to design several new amenities for doanes park, including a new multi-use tennis and pickleball facility. this project called for three regulation tennis courts with markings for pickleball and tennis on each court. the design included all grading work, an asphalt surface and all-weather coating, fences, and dual-purpose nets.

these expansive park improvements added to a robust offering of ball fields, playground areas, and soccer fields that were designed by our landscape architects, as well, and provide first-rate recreational opportunities for the surrounding neighborhoods. through various 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 meetings and working with pleasant hill city staff and other stakeholder groups, our designers were able to understand the priorities and budgets of the various groups to accomplish numerous improvements over the past three years.

haines park & village park

the two new courts in this altoona park are marked for tennis and pickleball use.

a similar project in altoona saw the removal and replacement of two tennis courts in village park and two courts in haines park. dual markings for tennis and pickleball were added to the courts in both parks, as well. the altoona parks & recreation department commissioned our team to design and oversee this project which included four regulation tennis courts, a new asphalt surface and all-weather coating, nets, and 10’ tall black vinyl coated fencing. site adjustments were necessary to accommodate the regulation size courts.

at one location, buried foundations discovered during construction posed a unique challenge to the plan. our design team immediately stepped in to create a fair solution between the contractor and the city to keep this project moving forward.

north polk community school district

when the north polk community school district’s new high school opened in 2013, a tennis court facility was not allowed for in the building funds. unfortunately, this prevented the district from being able to host home tennis meets for their student-athletes. when the funds became available, the school district turned to snyder & associates to design an athletic facility that not only provided first-class amenities but also included ample and comfortable accommodations for spectators.

this project included the construction and installation of six brand new, regulation tennis courts, complete with concrete walkways and expansive bleacher pads. the courts are an asphalt surface with an all-weather coating and included posts, nets, fencing, and perimeter gating. stormwater detention was also created and additional electrical service and site restoration were completed after the courts were constructed.

mercer park

dedicated tennis and pickleball courts are the highlights of iowa city’s mercer park.

the iowa city parks & recreation department went in a different direction for their project in mercer park. an existing six tennis court complex was converted to retain three full-size tennis courts and add eight pickleball courts. snyder & associates professionals evaluated the current athletic courts for resurfacing and expansion needs. our sports field design team then developed a plan that included new asphalt, partial fencing, posts, nets, resurfacing, and striping.

the demand in the iowa city area for amenities like this had been strong for many years and mimics a nationwide popularity trend for the sport of tennis. whether you’re community or organization is looking to convert existing tennis courts, or design a new sports facility from scratch, snyder & associates has years of experience designing tennis and pickleball facilities that meet our client’s customized needs.

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the atlantic community school district has high school sports venues at two different sites in town. situated on the atlantic high school grounds are an eight-lane track, a natural turf soccer field, and several practice fields. located ½ mile west is a trio of schools that serve the preschool through 8^th-grade students in atlantic. surrounding these schools is a baseball/softball complex, tennis courts, and the high school football stadium, historically known as the trojan bowl.

outdated & inadequate facilities targeted

numerous deficiencies and outdated facilities at several of these venues had the school district struggling to prioritize the necessary improvements. the natural turf field at the high school had deteriorated to an almost unusable condition after years of hosting soccer games, marching band and football practices. the accompanying bleachers were showing signs of age, as well, and in urgent need of replacement. additionally, the area lacked much-needed amenities, such as a discus and shot put field.

down the road at the other site, the baseball and softball fields had their unique problems. both fields sloped drastically toward the outfields, dropping over five feet from home plate to the center-field fence. inadequate drainage often made for sloppy field conditions and added to the general wear and tear. a lack of a central irrigation system, worn and outdated dugouts, and inadequate concessions rounded out the deficiencies that needed improvement.

across the complex, the 125-year-old trojan bowl stadium needed a major overhaul. enclosed on three sides by earthen berms, this facility lacked universal accessibility, standard safety features, and all-weather play capabilities. much like the baseball and softball fields, the playing area was uneven, worn, and lacked proper drainage. inadequate space along the sidelines created a safety hazard for players and coaching staff on and off the field.

the field itself was surrounded by a cinder track that became a muddy mess during rainy weather. this would quickly become a headache for fans, cheerleaders, and band members trying to navigate the stadium. emergency stand-by vehicles were also unable to access the field during these wet conditions. undersized concession areas meant long wait times for the fans and portable restroom facilities were an unwelcome sight.

school district opts to take action

the atlantic community school district reached out to snyder & associates for help in prioritizing, designing, and budgeting for their athletic field improvements. the experts at snyder & associates have years of experience in the natural and synthetic turf playing surfaces arena as well as facilities design. in partnership with west des moines-based frk architects, the team initially prepared a preliminary design, along with programming and construction budget estimates. this allowed the school district to organize a promotional campaign and 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 bond referendum request.

after the successful passing of the bond referendum, the team started on the next phase of the project. they worked with the school district to perform a site analysis, obtain soil samples, design a facility master plan, prioritize projects, assist with construction budgeting, and create a manageable renovation plan. extensive coordination between the school district, community athletic leagues, local clubs, and other stakeholders helped ensure the community’s diverse needs would be met with the targeted improvements.

master plan lays groundwork for state-of-the-art stadium and ball fields

this design rendering shows the upgrades planned for the high school location.

with a master plan in place, construction and renovation efforts began in earnest in the fall of 2019. at the high school location, an oversized soccer field design allows for the flexibility of field markings to accommodate a wide variety of sporting events. an all-weather, synthetic-turf playing surface means less downtime after inclement weather and requires less maintenance. the eight-lane competition track around the soccer field was resurfaced to provide many more years of service. and new shot put and discus fields were added just south of the track, while new bleachers are designed to meet all ada requirements.

also at the high school, four new tennis courts are scheduled for construction north of the track. these new courts, located close to where they’re needed, allows the tennis courts at the other site to be replaced with much-needed parking for washington elementary school. a newly expanded concession stand rounds out the renovations for the high school location.

over at the other sports venues, the baseball and softball complex is slated for a host of upgrades. extensive grading efforts will level the playing surface of both fields. to address the maintenance challenges, a fully-integrated and centrally controlled irrigation system is designed to care for the new turfgrass mixes being introduced, while also helping to reduce water usage. an elaborate drainage system slated for installation will allow the natural turf to recover faster between athletic events, increasing the playability of the fields.

spectators and players alike will benefit from the other complex improvements. wrap-around bleachers, improved fencing, expanded concession space, and a new concrete concourse area between the fields completes the fan amenities. for the players, new batting cages and dugouts will improve player training and enhance the game-time experience. a new press box to serve both fields is also in the offing.

reliable, playable synthetic-turf stadium

at the trojan bowl facility, the design team created more sideline space by improving the grading and removing several lanes from the non-competition track. the field was leveled and the slopes of the earthen berms were shallowed in preparation for the weather-resistant synthetic turf installation. much like the soccer field at the high school, the new turf means more time on the field for practice, fewer canceled games due to soggy conditions, and lower maintenance costs for the district. additionally, athletes will benefit from the addition of a four-lane rubber fitness track.

numerous paved walkways were also integrated into the plan. these lead spectators to the new concession stand, expanded restrooms, and the new ada compliant, 2,000-seat bleachers (1,500 for the home team fans and 500 for the visiting fans). a new scoreboard, lighting, and sound system will further enhance the fan experience. a centrally-located maintenance building was also incorporated into the plan to provide convenient access to equipment and further reduce upkeep time and costs.

when these upgrades are fully implemented (substantial completion is targeted for the fall of 2020) thousands of citizens, fans, and players will benefit from these well-planned and easily accessible athletic venues. the professionals at snyder & associates harnessed their years of experience in designing sports facilities and installing synthetic turf systems to help create these cutting edge sports complexes that will serve the atlantic schools well for years to come.

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as the city of johnston’s population continues to grow, the need for new schools and facilities has gone from the drawing board to reality over the past several years. and snyder & associates has been there every step of the way. from designing a new regional park, high school, sports complex, and the roadways surrounding these developments, to spearheading a city-wide walkability study, snyder & associates has teamed with the johnston community school district and the city of johnston to help make these projects come to life.

upgraded access & improved player safety take the forefront at the new baseball & softball complex

in continuing that long-standing partnership between these entities, snyder & associates was selected by the school district to design a new ballfield complex for their high school baseball and softball programs. the existing baseball field had several shortcomings, including poor drainage and an extremely bumpy playing surface. after a review by a professional in the turf management field, it was determined this surface posed a much greater threat to player safety than originally thought. in addition to player safety concerns, another desire of the school district was to have the baseball and softball fields closer together. the end goal was to create an environment that shared some of the common facilities and where fans could be actively involved in both games.

first-in-the-state, baseball & softball, synthetic-turf playing fields

prior to renovations, the johnston softball field suffered from major flooding near the backstop.

with an eye toward competing with the top baseball and softball programs in the state, the school district also wanted to explore the use of synthetic turf for both ballfields. on top of improving safety, a weather-resistant synthetic turf means fewer canceled games and provides players more time on the field for practice. snyder & associates selected a variety of product options based on ample experience with specialty sports surfaces and assisted the school district with their product decisions.

it was determined the existing baseball field site was the best location for the new improvements, while a brand new softball field would be constructed adjacent to the baseball field. in addition to the new turf, both fields would get new player facilities, backstops, fencing, and a concrete concourse area between the fields to provide better fan access. our design team also prepared enhanced stormwater modeling to provide the necessary stormwater management infrastructure. this improved the poor drainage associated with the existing ballfield location and the surrounding site.

using the current baseball field site required the existing sod and amenities to be removed and improved during the off-season. this made the project design and construction schedules somewhat challenging. but when the design stage concluded in the summer, construction began immediately following the baseball season. work wrapped up in may of the following year. this allowed both the baseball and softball programs to begin their seasons on the new fields without delays or rescheduling.

cross-country course added to johnston high school campus

the new cross-country course provides ample room for spectators to view the events.

two years after the opening of their new high school, the johnston community school district (jcsd) identified the need to create a safe and resilient cross-country course on their campus that would provide a quality surface for athletes, while also providing ample space for spectators. their existing practice course consisted of a mowed trail around the perimeter of the property that required numerous upgrades to meet the district’s needs. the snyder and associates team was again asked to create a master plan for the project and manage its execution.

guided by district leaders, our process began with a site walk to identify issues with the current course. the visit allowed our design team to gain a full understanding of problem areas and environmental conditions that would need to be addressed to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for athletes and fans. existing wetlands, property lines, changes in elevation, and several culvert crossings made the project especially challenging. the poor conditions on the practice course made it difficult to grow or maintain grass, exhibited a variety of erosion issues, and had ponding issues in several low-lying areas.

our team created a master plan and worked closely with the contractor to ensure each problem area was adjusted to match the design’s specifications. after grading and shaping to address the ponding issues, the course was seeded using a combination of overseeding and hydroseeding to reduce erosion and quickly establish the new surface. the natural turf mix was selected for its resiliency, density, leaf texture, and drought tolerance. also, its low maintenance and robust nature were a perfect fit for the district’s needs.

the high-quality and easily maintainable course now provides an attractive and functional recreation area on the johnston high school campus, adding yet another amenity to the district and community.

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despite numerous renovations over the years, the old high school building no longer met the district’s needs.

when the current ames high school opened in the early 1960s, the city of ames had a population of 27,000. that number is on pace to surpass 67,000 over the next few years. although the high school building has undergone over 15 additions and improvement projects in the intervening decades, the current facility is no longer able to meet the needs of the ever-growing student population. additionally, the district needed a centralized district office and a new home for its high school baseball and softball programs.

in 2019, officials from the ames community school district held a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off construction on their new $137 million high school building. the project was almost entirely funded by a bond referendum passed by the community in 2018. working in conjunction with opn architects, the snyder & associates team played a major role in the site design aspects of the new education facility, as well as creating the master plan for the new athletics facility and district office.

modern amenities to formulate an ideal learning environment

as construction progresses, the rear of the new high school is shown in december 2021.

located on the existing high school grounds, the new building (currently about 80% complete) will have state-of-the-art accommodations. an open commons area inside the front entrance will act as a gathering space for students, staff, and community events. several safety features are incorporated into the building design to protect entries, including a secure vestibule and video monitoring capabilities.

just off the commons area, are the entrances to a fine arts auditorium and a 1,800-capacity competition gymnasium with an elevated running track. a natatorium will house an eight-lane pool with starting blocks and a separate diving area. large, open academic pods will have classroom spaces, as well as collaboration space in the middle to foster teamwork. in addition, the pod areas will be flooded with natural light through the extensive use of glass in the building design.

site development and grading design work takes center stage

the new building is situated in the space formerly occupied by the parking lot and practice fields immediately to the east of the old high school. the snyder & associates approach to site development is built on an extensive understanding of municipality requirements and design processes that focus on organized, cost-effective site plans. along with site development, an extensive stormwater management plan was established by our team so the site grading would blend with the existing landscape. to that end, 3-d site models were prepared to determine cut and fill volumes to facilitate effective communication with contractors.

multi-phase construction process poses many design challenges

since construction is being completed in five phases over several years, it was necessary to maintain the current facility at full utilization through the first three phases. after the new building is substantially completed, the current high school will be decommissioned and demolished during phase four of the plan. the fifth phase will encompass site restoration for new athletic fields and a greenhouse where the old building stood. this multi-phase construction process created several challenges for the snyder & associates design team, including:

• the need to keep all utilities active for the existing building while running the utilities for the new building through a very narrow corridor
• creating new stormwater infrastructure without impeding the current system
• maintaining full access to both sites for emergency response equipment through the entirety of the construction process
• providing safe access to the existing high school for the students and staff through phase three of construction
• to provide parking accommodations when the new school is completed, the grading and construction of the southeast parking lot needed to be early in the phasing process

through diligent 2022世界杯32强预选赛  and site design work, the snyder & associates team was able to produce a plan that fits with the phased construction parameters and addresses all challenges. this plan will serve as the benchmark as the project progresses toward substantial completion in early 2022. stay tuned for updates as construction milestones are achieved.

athletic facility master plan envisions park-like setting, supporting numerous athletic programs

a professional grass-turf field highlights the new ames softball field.

located just a few blocks north of the high school, the ames community school district athletic complex project centered on the development of a triangle-shaped, 26-acre parcel of land situated in a densely populated residential neighborhood. the goal of the project was to provide a new administrative facility for the ames community school district, along with sports fields and athletic facilities to accommodate the district’s high school baseball and softball programs.

to meet the anticipated high level of use and various athletic programming needs, a competition baseball field and competition softball field, along with two practice ballfields were installed. all four ballfields feature a natural grass turf mix of kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. irrigation and infield sub-drain systems maximize field playability. in addition, the existing soil was excavated and amended to enhance playability and support a strong natural turf establishment.

stormwater detention basins and native plantings assist with stormwater management and drainage of the surrounding area. our team of landscape architects and engineers collaborated to create a site that drains and blends within the surrounding neighborhood.

the plaza area at the new athletic facility features attractive landscaping and low-maintenance lighting.

other amenities of this multi-use sports complex include eight tennis courts, a cross-country running course, and a 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 plaza for shared restrooms and concessions. a netting backstop system and elevated bleachers enhance the spectator viewing experience for ball games.

the administrative building for the school district was also constructed on the site. this approximately 18,000 square foot facility includes district offices, a board room, conference rooms, and production offices for the district. the new facility consolidated all these services at one location.

the snyder & associates team created the master plan design for this sprawling complex. this process required numerous 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 meetings to share the proposed improvements and address questions and concerns with residents, businesses, and stakeholders. the team used multiple methods of presenting and gathering input to effectively inform and receive information.

as the ames school system continues to grow, the snyder & associates team is dedicated to helping the community meet its ever-increasing needs. our land development, 2022世界杯美洲杯预选赛 , and landscape architecture efforts for these two major projects are just a snapshot of the services we can provide to assist communities as they prepare for their next chapter.

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