Work is progressing well at W.O. Smith Football Field at CHS

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[For the past several weeks workers have been actively implementing Phase III of the new improvements at the Chester High School W.O. Smith Football Field. Weather has cooperated for the most part and progress is quite noticeable.

The official project has three phases; however, a pre-phase actually began several years ago with the installation and upgrade of the football field lighting system. For several years, now, the Yellow Jackets have played under brand new, state-of-the-art lights at Smith Field.

Phase I of the renovation project involved the leveling of the football field which included the new, state-of-the-art electronic watering system and replacement of the playing surface. The Jackets now have a level field which provides equal advantage to both the home and visiting teams.

Issues with the quality of the dirt brought in to level the field and the poor quality of the top-soil used the finish the playing surface have hampered the ability of the turf to fully develop to its full potential, but experts hope to have that issue solved before the 2010 season.

Phase II of the project was completed two years ago and involved replacing the old visitor's bleachers with high quality grand stands and a brand new press box. At the same time the home crowd moved to the school-side of the field and the visitors were moved to what used to be the home side. Along with the new press box came a new sound system and wireless scoreboard controls.

Prior to the 2009 season end zone time clocks were installed compliments of the CHS Booster Club. Reserved seating is now available in the form of season tickets and seating is more plentiful with better visibility. Likewise the Yellow Jackets no longer have to travel right in front of the visiting team's crowd to-and-from the locker room prior to the game, at halftime and after the game.

Phase III began during the late winter of 2010 and with favorable weather workers have made significant progress s far. One of the primary goals of the effort has been do move a lot of dirt right behind the home grand stands and build a retaining wall. Some of the walls have already been poured and work continues towards completion of that goal.

Another Phase III goal is to build a new road down the home side of the hill. This road will be utilized to take supplies to-and-from the field as well as to offer handicapped fans to be driven to their seating locations. Minimum parking will also be created. Finally, a handicapped assessable stairway/walkway is going to be created, complete with handrails. Yellow Jacket fans will soon have an easier method of walking up-and-down the steep hillside from the parking lot to the grandstands. Safety and convenience will be greatly enhanced with the installation of the stairway.

Funding will not permit the completion of the final sections of Phase III goals this summer; however in the very near future the area under the grandstands will house restrooms, storage areas and concession stands.

Interested spectators can stop by the construction area and witness the improvements being made throughout the remainder of the spring and summer. By the start of the 2010 Chester High School football season one more phase of the W.O. Smith Field renovations will be completed for the further safety and enjoyment of CHS football fans.