×

Track resurfacing project underway at Don Drumm

Travelers on Greene Street may have noticed that Marietta College fully tarped the football playing surface at Don Drumm Stadium earlier this week.

The reason for tarping the field is because the Robert Annesenz Track at Don Drumm Stadium is being resurfaced by the track’s original installer, Fisher Track Inc. from Boone, Iowa. The tarp protects the green FieldTurf field from the red over-spray that naturally occurs during the resurfacing process.

Fisher’s crew will apply two new structural coats and re-stripe the lanes. When completed, Don Drumm Stadium will essentially have a new track. Resurfacing the track is needed every 8 to 10 years. The last time it was resurfaced was in fall of 2008 in preparation for the 2009 NCAA Division III National Championship Track Meet hosted by Marietta College.

Although it is an expensive undertaking, Marietta College Athletic Director Larry Hiser says it is well worth it.

“When the black base starts to show more prominently than the red rubber surface, it is time to get it done. While a new rubber surface is around $90,000, repairing the black base would require a complete re-install at nearly a half a million dollars.”

The project is being paid for with monies from the Don Drumm Stadium Sinking Fund, which was created in 2003 when the College took ownership of the facility. In 2011 the College completed a $3.6 million renovation that included the press box, locker rooms, tunnel, bleachers and the new scoreboard.

“Our contract with the Marietta City School System called for the establishment of a ‘sinking fund’ for maintenance and repair of the stadium property,” Hiser said. “Community support, through advertising, is really what allowed for the resurfacing to occur. All advertising money from the scoreboard goes into that fund and is being put directly back into the facility.”

After a 10-year grace period, the school system began paying a portion of the stadium maintenance costs in 2013. That money is also deposited into the sinking fund.

“It was really good thinking by the school board and college when the stadium changed hands back in 2003,” Hiser said.

The resurfacing project will have an impact on hundreds of student-athletes from Marietta College, Marietta High School and Marietta Middle School. Annesenz Track is one of the premier facilities in the Mid-Ohio Valley and is the site of numerous meets throughout the spring season.

“This project not only benefits our current student-athletes, but it will also help in recruiting future athletes to Marietta College,” MC head track coach Andre English said. “With the high school using our facility, we have the opportunity to make a good impression on potential recruits from Southeastern Ohio and West Virginia.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.15/week.

Subscribe Today