Wescott Fields was bustling with activity starting early Saturday.

But it wasn't because of a sporting event.

About 40 volunteers spent their Saturday at the complex for Wescott Field workday.

At the tennis courts, R.W. Johnson Co. brought equipment to pull out light posts that haven't been used since 1985.

An old baseball diamond in the southeast corner of the complex was being taken down to make room for a practice field.

About a dozen volunteers repainted the walls white and red in the locker rooms.

"Volunteerism is alive and well at Wescott Field," said Gordy Harder, a member of the Wescott Field Committee. "We can't do it without volunteers."

Much of the work was getting the field ready for the fall season. Two press boxes, one for the home and one for the visiting press, have been built, but need to be put up into the west stands at the football field.

Inside the locker rooms, the work began Friday. About 13 volunteers scraped paint off the walls in preparation for Saturday's painting, said Tim Hermann, Austin High School activities director and head football coach.

Hermann brushed white paint onto a wall of the men's locker room Saturday morning and praised the volunteers who have worked on the project over the past few years.

"I think it's so amazing there are so many volunteers," said Hermann who coached football at Chaplin Park High School before accepting the job in Austin this spring. "I'm not sure this could happen in a large, urban setting."

The locker renovation will be the next step in the Wescott renovation project, but the committee still needs funds to get it started. Revamping and building two additional locker rooms will cost about $1 million, said Bruce Huffer, building and grounds supervisor for the Austin School District.

To date, the project has raised more than $2.2 million, funding which has replaced the track, redone the seating at the stadium and built two new press boxes, among other improvements.

About $1.5 million is needed to complete the project, which also will revamp the tennis courts, said Amy Baskin, a committee member.

Although the committee would like Phase III to be completed by next fall, it all depends on donations, she said.

"We're just doing as much as we can as the money comes in," she said.

Saturday's work in the locker rooms was mostly cosmetic so that players and coaches enjoy them a little more.

"I'd rather have (the athletes) have some place they like to go rather than dread to go," Hermann said.

Superintendent Corrine Johnson spent the morning painting the locker rooms with her husband, Al. She complimented the volunteers on their hard work and said working in the locker rooms just reiterates how much they need improvements.

"From the stands, you don't realize the deterioration," Johnson said.

The volunteers planned to work throughout the day, or at least until they couldn't stand the heat anymore. Temperatures reached the 90s by Saturday afternoon.

"As long as we can keep people moving (we'll work)," said Huffer, who coordinated the work Saturday. "If it doesn't get too hot, we'll probably be here all day."

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at :cari.quam@austindailyherald.com