By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
A joint effort by the Hartselle Athletic Booster Club, Hartselle School Board and state and city governments has resulted in major improvements and a “new look” at J.P. Cain Stadium.
The $300,000 renovation project has included the resurfacing of the parking lot, an addition of rock columns and iron gates at the main entrance, re-fencing, re-painting and upgrades to dressing rooms of both home and visitor teams. New restrooms are a part of the overall project but they won’t be constructed until after the football season.
As workers rushed to put the finishing touches to the project last week, partnership representatives gathered to acknowledge the support State Sen. Arthur Orr gave to the project. Orr, R-Decatur, obtained two state grants totaling $76,000 to help finance the improvements.
A $50,000 grant came from a Public Schools and Colleges Bond Issue and was used on the parking lot resurfacing project. The remainder of the cost to resurface the parking lot, approximately $80,000, was split equally between the school board and the city of Hartselle. The other grant was for $26,000. It came from the Education Community Service Program and was used to help finance the redesign of the stadium’s main entrance. Booster Club members and coaches did much of the work as volunteers and private contributions were used to help pay for materials and supplies.
“It has gone great and we’re tickled with the result,” said Corum, a Booster Club director and past president. “This is the biggest single improvement project that has been undertaken since the stadium was built and it would not have been possible without the work and support of lot of people, We’re especially grateful to the school board and Sen. Orr for their help.”
The work comes at the perfect time, with the Tigers ready to start the football season.