Austin head football coach Brett Vesel huddles his team before taking the field against Winona in August. It was the first home football game on the new field turf at Art Hass Stadium. Herald file photo

By Amy Baskin and David Krenz

Austin Public Schools

Austin Public Schools is proud of the facilities we have and take great pride in maintaining and protecting these community assets.

This summer we were able to upgrade some of our athletic facilities at the Wescott Field complex to include two new artificial turf fields and in November we will add a seasonal dome to extend the availability and usage. To that end we feel a need to keep our fields and track at the Wescott Field complex in the best condition possible so we will be implementing some security measures to keep these facilities safe while also available to the community.

Beginning on Sept. 21, the Larry Gilbertson Track will be open from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. The general public will have access to the track during those hours and we will be able to secure the facility during the nighttime when there is no supervision. The artificial turf inside the Larry Gilbertson track will be reserved for events and rental activities only.

The water tower and Hass Stadium fields will be locked and reserved for events and rental activities only. The school board is currently reviewing the facility usage policy for the district. Rental procedures for use of the new artificial turf fields will be available to the community once they are finalized.  This will include usage procedures for the new Packer dome that will be erected in early November.  We intend to have public access hours for the walking track inside the perimeter of the dome from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. There will also be rental opportunities for groups and individuals for the artificial turf field inside the dome, along with batting cages.

Any individuals or groups that are interested in learning more about renting the facilities at the Wescott Field complex, including the artificial turf fields or the Packer Dome should contact Dan Ball-Facilities Coordinator for Austin Public Schools – dan.ball@austin.k12.mn.us – 507-460-1928.

The natural grass fields on the east side of the stadium will remain open to the community 24/7 and we encourage the community to assist us with keeping our facilities nice by being good citizens and helping to encourage others they see using the fields to be safe and responsible.

It is important to keep these facilities safe and in good shape for student and community use. It is a delicate balance to allow public access while maintaining a safe and secure site. We appreciate the strong support of our community and hope that you will support these changes to help us maintain a good facility for your use. If you have questions about the new procedures please contact Superintendent David Krenz at 507-460-1900.