Marsh Field project taking shape

MONROEVILLE — Right on time. Area high school football teams will be playing scrimmages one month from this weekend in preparation for the 2025 season, which begins on Aug. 22. As the calendar moves toward the start of the season, it's been a busy spring and summer at Marsh Field in Monroeville. The longtime home of the Eagles has been undergoing a large revitalization project, highlighted by a new home-side press box and bleachers. "I'd say overall we are on schedule other than a couple of things here or there we had hoped to get done earlier," Monroeville head football coach Tylor Nester said. "But it's all coming together nicely. The Marsh committee has done a nice job setting a schedule. "With the many projects here between the MAC (gymnasium), the new track, and the many improvements over the years here at Marsh, the community members come out of the woodwork to get things done." This week, the committee volunteers are on hold as the new bleachers are installed. From there, the press box will be set on the top of the new home side, and the main part of the project will be finished. Both sets of bleachers on the home side of Marsh Field were more than 30 years old. Other improvements include new concrete pavement surrounding the new bleachers, while also extending a concrete walkway behind the west end zone going toward the Jason Alexander Fieldhouse on the away side. Also included is a turf sideline on the home side, new NFL-height goalposts, and the relocation of the youngest set of home-side bleachers to create additional seating on the away side next to the fieldhouse. Other work being done at the field includes a new natural grass playing surface over a sand field with subsurface drainage tile. "We probably could play a game on the new field right now," Nester said. "There was a corner of the new sod we had to leave open that we hope to get to next week because it's where the new press box was sitting. "It's so tight down there, we had to do things incrementally. We had to be a little creative in the process with the tight fit of everything." Nester said the only thing that won't be ready this season is the new concession stand and restrooms, which will then allow the current concession stand to be converted to storage. An updated Victory Bell area near the concession stand will also be updated after this year. Also in the northeast corner on the away side will be a designated area for youths to play football, with the area striped for a mini-field. Behind the away bleachers is also a designated parking area for officials, players, coaches, and the visiting team's buses. "We figured we took away their two favorite spots to play during the game in the south end zone and behind the visitor bleachers," Nester said. With about a month to spare, Nester broke down what was left at the 127 North St. facility. "The visitor bleachers need to be tied up a bit along with the away-side press box," he said. "The concrete is pretty much done until the concession stand is finished, and we've got a big crane coming in to set the home press box. "The visitor sideline turf is in, and we will do the home side once the bleachers and press box crew is done," Nester added. "After a couple more weeks, we'll just be buttoning things up and be ready to go." The project had initially been intended to be done over several phases. The Victory Bell area will see previous teams and players highlighted in the future. "With the overwhelming support we got from the school, alumni athletic association, and private donors, we were able to kind of do it all at once," Nester said. "It made more sense than trying to do project by project." Over the last 10 years, the Monroeville football alumni has helped with renovated locker rooms, along with new lights, a new scoreboard, and the addition of a play clock in each end zone. The alumni association came to the school and wanted to partner on the Marsh project. Greg Schafer from the Monroeville-based excavating contractor Underground Utilities and Nester were also instrumental in putting the project together. The fundraising started with brick pavers that were sold in three different sizes ranging from $100 to $250 each. Those were sold through April. From the Alexander Fieldhouse to brand-new facilities such as Clark Park (baseball and softball), the Monroeville Athletic Complex (volleyball, basketball, wrestling), and now the new track, Nester has seen firsthand how supportive the village and school community is. "It's come a long way, and I can't say enough about the community members who have supported it through donations or the countless hours spent down there," he said. "I've been in the Monroeville community since 2012, but to be this closely attached to a project is still amazing to see." The amount of help and volunteer work has included current players and past alumni of many different age groups. "We've had our own current players, all the way to kids I coached in the beginning, and many other alumni well before my time," Nester said. "It's very rewarding because you know you're all down there for the same reason." The Eagles are scheduled to host McComb in the season opener at the renovated venue on Aug. 22. Other home dates include Aug. 29 vs. Tiffin Calvert, Sept. 19 vs. New London, Oct. 3 vs. Mapleton, and Oct. 10 vs. Plymouth.