McALESTER — It’s going down — but a new one is coming up. The visitors section in Hook Eales Stadium is being demolished as part of an effort to renovate and upgrade parts of the stadium.
Plans call for the bleachers in the visitors section of Hook Eales Stadium to be taken down and removed, said McAlester Public School Superintendent Marsha Gore.
“We had someone come and look at them to repair them” Gore said of the bleachers in the visitors section. Gore said she learned the costs of repairing or renovating the visitors bleachers, originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, would “be prohibitive.” “We’re going to replace them with aluminum bleachers,” Gore said.
Costs of replacing the visitors bleachers section at Hook Eales Stadium hasn’t yet been finalized, according to Gore. “We haven’t bid that out yet,” she said.
Henry Moss Trucking is handling the demolition and excavation of the visitors bleachers. Moss said it will probably take from 30 to 45 days to complete the demolition project.
Other projects under way at the stadium include the removal of sod on the football field at the stadium, to be replaced by AstroTurf. When the project is complete, the AstroTurf will be striped for football and soccer, Gore said.
Another part of the project calls for the replacement of the running track circling the field at Hook Eales Stadium. Mid America Sports is handling the AstroTurf portion, with a $663,400 contract, Gore said.
Vibra Whirl is handling the track portion, with a $215, 400 contract, she said. Gore credited the support and contributions of the First National Bank, the Bass Foundation and other community members in supporting the project and helping move them forward.
Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.
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