BANGOR, Maine — Recent University of Rhode Island graduate Alexander Clark was getting in a workout on Wednesday night.
He was doing a series of sprint and agility drills on the new Winkin Sports Complex FieldTurf at Husson University.
“It’s so much more responsive [than the old turf],” said Clark, son of Husson assistant men’s basketball coach John Clark. “It’s amazing. It feels better.”
The $1.6 million project, which is being funded by Husson’s reserves fund, is nearly complete.
“The only thing left is to put the fences down the right- and left-field lines,” said Husson Director of Athletics Frank Pergolizzi. “The outfield fence is done.”
He said that the fences down the lines will be “easily removable,” which will make snowplowing simpler.
“We’ll be able to get the snow off the field easier. It was designed that way,” said Pergolizzi.
The project was finished on schedule, and Pergolizzi said he is pleased with the project and that the feedback has been positive.
“Some of the football players ran around on it yesterday and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread,” said Pergolizzi. “It is softer than the old turf, but it is still firm. It has some give to it.”
H.E. Sargent Inc. of Old Town was the contractor for the project, and Pergolizzi said the company was a “pleasure to work with.”
The Husson football, baseball and field hockey teams will use the facility.
The Zone 1 American Legion baseball tournament will be the first event to be held at the facility beginning on Friday, July 22.
The old field had a dirt mound.
“It’ll be nice to get those kids on our campus to see the facility,” said Pergolizzi, who added that the exposure the university receives from hosting events such as the Legion tournament is helpful in the recruitment of students.
The baseball lines will be put down on soon, he said.
The new turf replaced a surface that was 14 years old.
A shock pad to improve the resiliency of the field as well as new drainage was installed under the FieldTurf.
Pergolizzi said the new $28,000 digital scoreboard will probably arrive in mid-August.
“We’re still finalizing the design and artwork,” said Pergolizzi.
That will coincide with the completion of the expanded weight room, which will cost $260,000.
The money was raised by donors.
Two rooms are being merged into one 2,200-square-foot facility.
“That is on schedule as well,” said Pergolizzi. “The construction work should be done by the end of July, they’ll install the flooring the first week of August, and all the equipment will go in the second week of August just in time for the first day of football practice.”