KASSON — Visitors attending a Kasson-Mantorville High School sporting event at the new KMTelecom Stadium will enter through a walkway paved with memories.
The school is selling pavers for the KoMet Walk, the entrance walk into the new stadium at Kasson-Mantorville High School in Kasson to commemorate a special event or person. The four by eight- or eight by eight-inch pavers sell for $100 and $200 respectively and can have writing and graphics engraved on them.
The prices are good through Sept 1 to raise sales so a lot of pavers can be in place in time for homecoming.
The walkway will be about 30 feet square and will have a built-in pattern of pavers with a big ‘K’ and ‘M’ in a contrasting color. New pavers can be added as time goes by. "Premium pavers" are also available for individuals or companies who wish to donate more.
"The community has really stepped up to this project with assistance in the form of money, skills, and donated material. The stadium is a community asset, and the community is really starting to rally around the project," said Mark Matuska, superintendent of K-M schools.
ADVERTISEMENT
The decision to renovate the stadium was announced last October. A partnership with KMTelecom is helping fund the renovation.
The transformation includes a new artificial-turf playing field, a 1,500-seat grandstand on the south side of the current facility with a press box at the top, and a new entrance to the field, with better ticketing booths, restrooms, and a new concession area.
It is here the new KoMet Walk will be built.
The first phase of the project, the new playing field, was completed last week in time for fall sports practice.
"The field is in. Kids are on it. Activities are ramping up," said Matuska.
"We have a lot of community members anxious to use the field, all the way from young kids to older community members playing pick-up soccer," he said.
The anticipated cost for the stadium is coming in lower than the projected figure of $1.1 million, because of donations of labor and materials, said Matuska.
It is being funded with $650,000 in capital funds the school district already has. Additional funding is flowing in from grants, sponsorships, private donations, and volunteer labor.
ADVERTISEMENT
As an example, Bigelow Homes has signed on to provide general contracting at no cost for the new ticket booths and concessions building.
"We are fortunate to have strong community support from local businesses, and Bigelow Homes’ gracious support is just another example of that," said Matuska.
The next phase is the ticket booth area entryway and the KoMet Walk, "…which we are targeting to complete this fall," he said.
