By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The current track facility at Barton Community College was constructed in 2010. The turf for the soccer field has exceeded its lifespan, and the track surface is experiencing cracking, separation and heaving. Most of the issues with the track surface are due to improper drainage of the area around the track as well as a failing drainage system within the sub-base.
Proposals were requested from multiple vendors and site visits occurred with each vendor. Barton Athletic Director Trevor Rolfs said the improvements could make a big impact on what events can be hosted in Great Bend.
"To be able to host a KSHSAA (Kansas State High School Activities Association) Regional, we have to have a much better footprint than we do now," said Rolfs. "Obviously, with our central location in the state, the potential down the road to host some sort of KSHSAA event is big."
The Barton Board of Trustees approved the planned budgeted project from Tarkett Sports Construction for $3,128,373. Improvements will be a new track surface, field events and turf replacement and drainage repair.
Barton Vice President of Administration Mark Dean said the project will include a Post Tension Track which eliminates the concerns of the sub-base and potential water issues.
"They will crisscross cables, stretch those cables, pour the concrete and then once it is all set up they release the cables to pull everything back together," said Dean. "That concrete slab sits on top of whatever is under it. It isn't going to heave. It's one big slab on top of what is currently our track. That eliminates the problems you have with the sub-surface below."
The Tarkett bid was more than $74,000 cheaper than the other bid from Mammoth Sports Construction. The Tarkett contract includes a 50-year warranty on the base concrete and a 10-year warranty on the track surface.
"We have high schools and junior highs in our service area that need a bigger facility to host a big meet," added Rolfs. "We used to have other meets out here that brought upwards of 14 or 15 teams."
Tarkett plans to be finished with the project by October 2025.