Monroeville to dedicate improved Marsh Field

MONROEVILLE — Greg Schafer didn't think much of it. When another big project started to take shape for Monroeville High School's athletic teams, the president of excavating contractor Underground Utilities jumped right in. "It's just the Monroeville way, I guess," Schafer said about the Marsh Field Revitalization project, which officially finished earlier this week. "If you look back at the history of all the athletic facilities at Monroeville, it's always kind of been done this way. "This is just another in a long tradition of projects that goes back way before me," he added. "Both the MAC (Monroeville Athletic Center) and the new track and field facility involved a lot of volunteer contributors and donors, just like this was." When Monroeville opens the gates to Friday's Firelands Conference game vs. Mapleton at Marsh Field, the project that took 10-plus months will be 100 percent complete. That wrapped up earlier this week when the new restroom and concession stand on the home side were finished, along with the finishing touches on the donor sign that is displayed. The facility will be dedicated at the game, which also serves as football alumni night and homecoming as well. "In my 30 years here I am still amazed at the resilience, energy, and pride our community takes in this school and its student-athletes," MHS athletic director Ben Paul said. "It's just incredible to see what we've accomplished in the last 10 years." That started in 2016 when the community matched an anonymous $1 million donation to build the Monroeville Athletic Complex, home for the basketball, wrestling, and volleyball teams, among its many uses. Then, the longtime push for a track and field facility finally came to fruition and opened last year on Ohio 99 behind the high school. So when the renovations proposed for Marsh Field came up, Paul admits he felt a little hesitation at the idea. Those came on the heels of Clark Park, which was built for the baseball and softball teams off U.S. 20 on the east side of town. "Inside I'm saying, 'I think our community needs a break, and we're pushing our luck,'" Paul said. "But I couldn't have been more wrong. Between the football alumni association, the athletic boosters, and the leadership of Greg Schafer and the school district, it was just incredible at what was able to happen down there in nine months." Paul said he's seen other schools build and improve facilities, but he cannot shake the idea of how much the village continues to pull off. "I just find it hard to believe that many communities out there can do it like this," he said. "It's just a real tribute to the people who live here. They give without question. They are here helping on all days and nights of the week in any weather. "None of those things matter. Improving Marsh Field, already a great venue, was something they saw as a priority." Among the biggest highlights to the improvement of the longtime home of the Eagles was a new home-side press box and bleachers. The previous bleachers were more than 30 years old. Other improvements included 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. On the playing field, a new natural grass surface over a sand field with subsurface drainage tile was installed. Also in the northeast corner on the away side is 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. Paul said pinpointing one improvement in particular isn't easy because the general fan experience has gotten better across the board. The bleachers are more handicap-friendly and sit higher than the old ones did. "You feel like you are a little bit more on top of the field than before," he said. "With no track and not a lot of sideline space, you were always right on top of the action in the past, and now that adds to that experience and feeling." Paul also noted the old bleachers being shifted to the away side also gives the visiting crowds more room, and the same for the away team coaches up top. In past years, the home crowd had to walk across uneven ground to the away side, where the fieldhouse sits, to use the restrooms. "It's just a big improvement, and makes for a better crowd flow of people," Paul said. "Now, everything comes in from the main parking lot and all our things are focused on that Northwest corner. It just makes for easier access to get in and out." Schafer said there was the usual great buy-in from the community but was also happy to see some new, younger faces get involved as well. "It was wonderful to see Coach (Tylor) Nester and the football players coming down and helping lay the sod for the field," he said. "The kids pitched in and helped after their summer workouts, and that's big because it gave them a sense of ownership of the project, too." Paul also praised Schafer for refusing to cut corners or eliminate anything along the way. "A lot of little things that don't get thought about," he said. "Giving the kids the youth field right next to the playing field so they have their own Friday night experience … no detail was spared. "That's how Greg looks at a project, and he is not willing to do less than what is spectacular — and everyone buys into that vision," Paul added. "We will recognize all the volunteers and donors on Friday, but nothing will do them justice or adequately describe the appreciation or show the gratitude we have for the finished project." Schafer said there is a lot of pride in the way the project turned out. The Eagles also have a home game next week (Oct. 10) vs. Plymouth and are on track for at least one first-round home playoff game starting on Oct. 31. "There were some bumps in the road, like there are with anything," Schafer said. "But I would surely hope everyone is happy with the end result, and hopefully it's something that gets used quite a bit for years to come."