Published: August 19, 2008 04:40 pm            

A new Putnam — 08/20/08

Keeping character of football stadium is worth extra cost

We agree with members of the Putnam Stadium renovation committee: Character matters.

Replacing the bleachers in the aging stadium with metal bleachers likely could be done for a fraction of the cost of replacing the seats with concrete ones.

But metal bleachers would make Putnam Stadium look much like every other high school football field in Kentucky. The concrete seating is what makes Putnam different than every other high school stadium in the state, and members of the renovation committee are adamant about not allowing the current seats to be replaced by metal bleachers just to save money.

“You come into this stadium, and it’s the only one like it in the state,” said Greg Jackson, a member of the renovation committee. “It’s the character of this place. It’s what everyone sees.”

We agree. Of all the football stadiums where the Ashland Tomcats regularly play, only Ironton’s historical Tanks Memorial Stadium is comparable to Putnam Stadium, and even in Ironton the concrete seating is limited only to the home side of the field. Those sitting on the visitors’ side must sit on metal bleachers — and there aren’t many of them. At Putnam there is ample concrete seating on both sides of the field.

Built in 1937, Putnam Stadium certainly is showing signs of aging, but despite its shortcomings, it remains the envy of just about every high school in the state.

The Ashland Board of Education approved a major renovation of Putnam a few years ago that included a new entrance, new restrooms and a modern concession area. During a special meeting Friday, the school board approved a stop-gap repair project that will erect concrete pillars under the bleachers near the 35-yard line on both sides of the field.

Superintendent Steve Gilmore called the repairs a “precautionary measure” designed to make the stadium safe until more permanent renovations are completed. The school board bypassed the requirement to seek competitive bids for the work in order to have the pillars completed before the Tomcats’ first game against Raceland on Aug. 29. The work is expected to cost about $16,750.

Just when the bleachers will be replaced and the other improvements that the renovation committee envisions for the 71-year-old stadium will occur will depend on the success of fundraising efforts for the project. The non-profit Putnam Stadium Foundation has been created to raise the bulk of the estimated $5 million it will cost to turn Putnam into a modern stadium that retains its historic character.

In addition to the new bleachers, the renovation committee’s plans call for new turf, scoreboard, pressbox, locker rooms, lighting, championship banner poles, concessions and fencing. Plans also call for a new middle school practice field and parking lot.

All of those improvements are needed, but they do not all have to be done at one time. The new bleachers are the most expensive items on the list, and since the locker rooms are under the bleachers, they presumably would be built at the same time. The other improvements can be made as funds become available.

Minus some unexpected large donations, Dan Kelly, a member of the restoration committee, recognizes that it will take time to raise that much money. However, Putnam Stadium is near-and-dear to the hearts of not only many current residents of this city, but also many former Ashlanders who still have fond memories of playing football or soccer or marching in the band at the stadium.

Donations to the Putnam Stadium Foundation can be sent to P.O. Box 1901, Ashland, Ky. 41105-1901. Donations are tax-deductible.

Raising money privately for the renovation is the right way to go. The Ashland Independent School District has too many other needs to spend so much tax money on a football field. A successful fund-raising drive will assure that Putnam Stadium will continue to be the pride of Tomcat football for decades to come.

        

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