Linduska Field in Jefferson is going to get a major facelift this summer.

Greene County Schools Activities Director Todd Gordon says there will be a new irrigation and drainage system installed, along with removing the crown on the field and flattening it to be level and sod the field. 

“So what this allows us to do in the spring of 2023 is play soccer here in Jefferson and our teams will play here on our field. To keep Grand Junction field open is just costly. Our custodial staff, our maintenance staff, our operations staff is stretched really thin. So when you have to keep that field going, you have to keep it mowed, you have to keep it lined, it becomes hard to do that.”

There are no plans for the Grand Junction field at this time. The School Board approved in January a $98,170 bid from Iowa Athletic Field Construction Company to handle that project.

Another improvement is going to be the addition of a video scoreboard. Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation gave a $100,000 grant to the Greene County Activities Department to be used toward the $147,000 purchase to replace the current scoreboard. Superintendent Tim Christensen says the scoreboard will be similar to what is in the high school gym that was donated by Grow Greene County and Wild Rose Casino and Resort in Jefferson. He talks about another student-led advantage with the new scoreboard.

“We’ve got a class called Ram Fantic that makes videos and promotional things (that are) currently shown in the gymnasium but will also be shown on the football field. So it’s kind of a good tie-in to academics as well.”

The School Board approved the $147,500 bid from Blackfin Sports Consulting at their April meeting. Christensen adds fundraising and sponsorships will fulfill the rest of the funding needed for that project. It is anticipated that both projects will be completed ahead of this coming football season.