Grinnell’s T.T. Cranny football field renovations planned

By J.O. Parker
 
     Efforts are currently underway to raise funds to renovate and upgrade the Grinnell High School T.T. Cranny football field.
    Plans are to turn the stadium, which was built in 1961, into an expanded use facility with the addition of artificial turf and, pending the amount raised, other improvements in and around the stadium, noted information on the proposed project. 
    These possible other improvements include a donor walk to showcase the support of the project, a new entrance and ticket booth with restrooms, a new video scoreboard and repurposing the maintenance building for storage, officials room and other possibilities. Plans also call for new fencing around the track and to replace and expand sidewalks to meet ADA requirements.
     In addition, the district has had discussions through the years about the need for more parking north of the school. This would allow for one entry into the school for inside athletic and fine arts events.
    “These upgrades will allow for additional usage of the facility, including marching band, soccer, physical education and track and field events as well as allowing for more community involvement from parks and recreation and other community organizations,” noted members of the Tiger Football Club, organizers of the renovation project.
    The most recent updates to the stadium were the installation of new visitor bleachers in 2019 and new stadium lighting in 2020.
    The first phase of the project is to install the turf field. Organizers are looking to raise $1.2 million for this phase. The Grinnell-Newburg CSD has agreed to pay for half of the turf cost, $600,000, with the remaining cost to come from donations.
    “The plan is to do the artificial turf and work our way out,” noted Chris Coffman, athletic director at the high school. “Our plan is to begin the turf installation in the spring/summer of 2022, so it can be finished by the first game.”
      Coffman said bids for the projects will go out in the upcoming month and timeframes will be determined.
      “The other projects will most likely need to be done in phases,” Coffman said.
      To make the project possible, organizers are offering the following levels of recognition.
Levels of Recognition:
$250 – Small Brick
$500 – Large Brick
$1,000 – $7,500 – Brick and Donor Board
$10,000 – Brick, Donor Board and 5 Naming Opportunities
$25,000 – Brick, Donor Board and 1 Naming Opportunity
$50,000 – Brick, Donor Board and 1 Naming Opportunity
$100,000 – Brick Donor Board and 3 Naming Opportunities
$250,000 – Brick, Donor Board and 2 Naming Opportunities
$500,000 – Brick, Donor Board and Stadium Naming Opportunity (Field would still be named TT Cranny Field)… (ie TT Cranny Field at Company XYZ Stadium)
    Donations are being handled through the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation. For more information on making a donation, visit: https://www.ttcrannyrenovation.com/.