Board advances $2 million facility plan for Bednar complex and Silas Willard renovations; bleacher, press‑box choices debated
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Summary
Architect and staff presented a site plan and timeline for the Bednar Complex and Silas Willard safety upgrades and storage/concession facilities; trustees OK'd bid specifications and asked for a funding plan next month. The board discussed open vs. enclosed press box costs and bleacher capacity.
The Galesburg CUSD 205 board reviewed a site plan for the 2026 facility improvements that covers the Bednar baseball/softball complex and safety and access upgrades at Silas Willard Elementary, and approved specifications to put the work out to bid.
Presenter Brian described the scope: repair and paint an existing team room, re‑seal and restripe an adjacent parking lot, build a new concessions/ticketing building with two roughly 225‑square‑foot storage rooms, add restrooms and family facilities, relocate sound and head‑end systems, add fencing and bollards for controlled circulation, and replace aging bleachers. "Roughly 200 spectators are at the existing bleachers. We are planning for 300 in the new layout," Brian said, describing a C‑shape layout and an open press‑box platform designed to house power, data and a camera.
Board members questioned why the plan specified an open press box rather than an enclosed structure; Brian said the two main considerations were equity with the softball facility and cost. He cited manufacturer guidance and a per‑square‑foot figure: "They're telling me that it's roughly $750 a square foot," and estimated that enclosing a press box could run "probably $100,000 to $150,000 depending on the size." Trustees discussed that an enclosed press box for baseball could require matching facilities at softball and would add both construction and foundation costs.
Administrators estimated the combined projects (original three projects) were originally around $1.5 million and, after adding Silas Willard work, the estimate is now about $2,000,000. The district said it will present a funding plan and the formal bids next month; construction for the baseball/softball complex is planned to start after the spring season, with completion targeted for late fall/early winter.
The board approved the specifications to go to bid and asked administration to include options for press‑box enclosure cost implications and funding sources when bids are returned. No final commitment to additional spending was made at the meeting.