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Community group outlines irrigation and drainage plan for Banks athletic fields; work planned after school year
Summary
Paul Kennedy of Banksville Summer Softball presented a plan to install irrigation and drainage on the varsity and JV fields, including a 6-inch drainage tie-in, French drains, permit drawings by IronMark, construction by Robinson Construction, and a roughly two-week construction window after school ends.
Paul Kennedy, representing Banksville Summer Softball, presented a proposal to the Banks School District board on May 12 to add irrigation and drainage to the varsity and junior varsity athletic fields to improve safety and playable conditions.
Kennedy described a plan that would install a 6-inch drainage tie-in to an existing manhole in the bus lane, French drains along foul lines, sprinkler heads for irrigation, and control boxes with trenching to bring electrical power from an existing service point. “The drainage, we’re gonna do a 6 inch tie in ... that 6 inch pipe size would give us adequate drainage in the future,” Kennedy said.
He said IronMark is preparing permit drawings, Robinson Construction would perform most of the construction, and a parent with a landscaping business would assist with the irrigation work. Kennedy estimated a short construction window (roughly two weeks) immediately after the school year ends, during which the bus lane would be temporarily closed and work staged to minimize disruptions to campus traffic.
Project details mentioned at the meeting include a planned variable-speed pump upgrade with an approximate $3,000 cost and a rough estimate of permit and materials needs. Kennedy also noted the drainage tie-ins would be sized to accommodate a possible future conversion to turf without redoing the work.
Why it matters: Board members and community advocates said improved drainage and irrigation will increase field useability, reduce safety risks from hard playing surfaces, and lengthen practice time available outdoors instead of in gyms. Kennedy said the varsity field is the priority and that the JV field would be roughed in if full funding is not immediately available.
What’s next: Kennedy said the group will proceed with permit drawings and coordinate with district facilities staff; the board discussion did not include a formal vote but flagged the facilities committee and consent processes will advance the item.
