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Athletic complex plans unveiled

School officials unveil vision for $2 million baseball/softball complex

A RENDERING — Athletic Director John Arlesic, left, and Director of Special Projects Mike Bauman look over the architect’s renderings for Steubenville City Schools’ new baseball and softball complex on Stanton Boulevard. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Steubenville City Schools unveiled their vision for a new, $2 million baseball/softball complex on a seven-acre parcel on Stanton Boulevard, Wednesday.

Dugouts, a press box, restrooms, concession stand, bleachers and parking are all part of the plan, along with turf fields. Lights and batting cages would have to come later.

“Steubenville has never had its own softball or baseball field. We’ve always had to share either with the city or Franciscan University,” Athletic Director John Arlesic said. “It’s an opportunity for our kids to have a place to call their own. Being able to say that, they can have even more pride in our facilities.”

Work could get under way in June and would take about nine months to complete. Superintendent Melinda Young said they hope to be able to use the new fields in 2022.

“It’s really exciting,” she said. “We’re just fortunate to have a community that supports the school system and a community that’s always planning ahead for Steubenville. I’d also like to thank the Teramana family for developing the land.”

Young said using turf means the fields can stand up to the wear-and-tear of tournament play. “We also won’t have to have as many postponements because of weather,” she added.

The schools already have about 80 percent of the funding lined up, partly from grants, but also some permanent improvements funds.

“I think it’s been in the planning stages for a long time,” she said. “A lot of the pre-planning that was done makes this much easier.”

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