The Wescott Athletic Complex is about to get a major makeover, and coaches say area athletes will benefit.

Vision 2020 announced plans Thursday for a $4.5-million project to erect a seasonal dome and put artificial turf fields on Art Hass Stadium and the infield of Larry Gilbertson track and field.

In the winter months, the dome placed over Art Hass will present the opportunity for plenty of outdoor sports to be played year-round. It will be owned and operated by Austin Public Schools.

“It’s going to be a landfall for softball,” Austin head softball coach Al Eckmann said. “We’re going to be able to do things we weren’t able to do before.”

The Packer softball and baseball teams will likely be able to practice in the dome in the early spring months when there is still snow on the ground. The Packer softball team will be able to play games in the dome early in the season.

“It’s going to help the softball program a lot,” Eckmann said. “It’s going to be fun for the kids and the coaches as well. There’s nothing worse than practicing in a gym when you don’t have any space. That can be a pain, because a lot of things don’t get covered and don’t get worked on.”

Austin head boys soccer coach Jens Levisen said many of his players currently go to play at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault or Rochester Community and Technical College, which both have domes, over the winter. Having a dome in Austin could make a difference.

“I have no idea how much access we’re going to have to it, but just having something like that available not only to our high school students, but to youth programs as well, I think it’s going to be a fantastic facility,” Levisen said.

In Rochester, RCTC’s seasonal dome hosts winter softball leagues and winter soccer leagues. It is unclear at this time if Austin will use its dome for those purposes, but the possibility exists.

The artificial turf on both fields will certainly give Austin an opportunity to host section tournament events, as the Minnesota State High School League now requires all football section title games to be played on turf. Austin will be the third school in the Big Nine to have turf after Winona and Rochester Mayo.

Austin High School Activities Director Lisa Quednow said the turf will give the school some versatility with events.

“Two turf fields will give us a lot of options for different things, but the varsity sports will stay on the same fields,” she said. “The dome can be used for baseball practice, softball games and a community winter soccer program.”

Both Levisen and Austin head football coach Brett Vesel said the turf will provide a solid playing surface no matter the weather. In the past, rain soaked fields have made Art Hass’s playing surface less than ideal as the field is often used multiple times per week.

“I think because so many teams share the field, it’ll give us a good surface every week,” Vesel said. “We don’t have to worry about playing on it too much. I think it’s exciting. It’s awesome. The kids are already excited, and for the younger kids, now they can play on the field on Saturdays. That will be exciting for them.”

The turf will also give the Packers a competitive advantage as all section and state tournament games are played on that surface. Levisen said in soccer, the game is different on grass than it is on turf.

“The ball will move in a more consistent way on turf than grass,” Levisen said. “The way that we play, we have a number of players that are talented with the ball with their feet. It’s going to be to our advantage with the way that we’ve been playing.”

Quednow said the goal is to have the turf installed by next fall, when the Packer football and soccer teams open their seasons.

The project will be paid for using $2.5 million from Austin Public School reserves, as well as contributions from the Hormel Foundation and a community campaign. District officials say money had already been set aside for a future project, so there’s no need to issue a bond for construction.

The district will likely offset the cost to maintain the athletic complex through rental fees for the updated stadiums, according to Mark Stotts, finance director for Austin Public Schools.

—Trey Mewes contributed to this report.