Dr. John Asplin, of District 205, gave a brief walkthrough Friday, Sept. 12, of the nearly completed Galesburg Athletic Facility, describing an infield hitting bay for baseball and softball, a large wrestling practice area and a weight room that district staff expect to outfit in about five to six weeks.

The facility will serve school teams and physical-education classes and was shown to reporters and community members as District 205 finished the fifth week of the academic year. "What you are looking at right now behind me is the infield hitting Bay area for baseball and softball," Asplin said during the walkthrough.

The tour highlighted spaces intended for multiple sports. Asplin pointed to an "open space for other athletic teams or PE classes" and led viewers down a hall to the wrestling area on the northwest side of the building, which he said is "very large" and "will be raised up and they'll be covered from the wall to wall with wrestling mats." He also showed an unfinished weight room and said equipment would arrive in "about 5, 6 weeks," with use starting "roughly the November 1." "So we can go over here just a little bit and you can see in here, it's just an open space right now. It'll be filled in about 5, 6 weeks with new weight lifting equipment that we're gonna be then able to use starting roughly the November 1," Asplin said.

Asplin noted other construction details: a nearly finished warehouse on site and crews "outside pouring concrete outside right now." He described the facility as "rounding into shape," and said the district looks forward to using it soon.

He also reminded listeners of Homecoming events the same evening: the Homecoming Parade downtown on the regular route at 4:15 p.m., a freshman game at 5 p.m., and a varsity game scheduled for about 7 p.m., with the Homecoming Dance the following day. He warned of a brief heat spell, saying temperatures in the coming days would be "like 95, 96" and urged people to stay hydrated.

The walkthrough was informational; no formal board action or approvals were announced during the presentation. Asplin signed off saying the facility is "rounding into shape, and we look forward to using it very soon."