WPCNR PRESS BOX. July 22, 2007 Updated 3:45 PM EDT: Demolition of the classic Parker Stadium bowl at Highlands Middle School and the Glenn D. Loucks football field has been under way for two weeks. At Parker Stadium the old concrete grandstand has been leveled and the track in process of being torn up. At Loucks the track is being removed, wooden bleachers removed. The plan is to have Parker Stadium completed in time for the Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl Game. As of today, the construction firm has 124 Days until Thanksgiving to install the new metal bleachers sitting 1,300; a new track and, of course the synthetic turf field. Loucks Field has a looser timetable. They need to finish that field in time for the Loucks Games in May, 2008.

So long old friend. The classic amphitheatre of old Parker Stadium as it looked yesterday.

Loucks Field with former track in process of removal, and natural turf field in process of preparation yesterday.

At Parker Stadium the wooden bleachers, the concrete grandstand, pressbox and portions of the cinder track have been removed as of Sunday, to be replaced by metal bleachers between the 20 yard lines, a resurfaced track and of course, synthetic turf, prehashmarked for lacrosse, soccer, field hockey and football.

Parker Stadium with Highlands Middle School in foreground.

Loucks Stadium Eastern Sideline. Wooden bleachers have been removed. The clubhouse to the right will not be renovated. The Board of Education is seeking funding to refurbish it in keeping with the new stadium, but no commercial or community sources have stepped up to fund a field house renovation yet.  Jumping and field events will be conducted in the strip of grass in foreground.

 Loucks Field, though not needed for action until May, 2008, has to install its new track prior to the cold weather months, according to Ed Gorman, Track & Field Consultant for Mondo, the company which manufactures the 8-lane state-of-the-art running surface. According to Gorman, the field is done from the inside out, with the synthetic turf being installed first and the Mondo track surface last in the process. Gorman said the asphalt has to be poured and set and track installed before the ground freezes, which would mean that the synthetic surface would need to be completed in late October to early November.

Gorman told WPCNR, "We'll install the track after the turf. We'll work from the inside out. It depends on the weather. The asphalt has to be done first. Before the freeze weather sets in. It has to be before. They'll put the asphalt in. We don't have to wait until the synthetic turf is done entirely. They can still be on the infield while we're on the track. The deadline on this job is in November."

Gorman described the track as Olympic class: It's prefabricated rubber.  No chemicals involved. It's a clean material It's the track that's been the official track for the last eight Olympic Games. We're now doing the China Olympic games. It's the same track they ran the U.S. Olympic trials on and the U.S. Championships on this year."

Parker Stadium Construction: New set of metal bleachers, seating 1,300 with press box, plus installation of synthetic turf and running track. Cost: $3.4 Million. (Approx.) Photo, WPCNR News.

The Loucks Makeover: two sets of metal bleachers seating 3,250  with press box, lights, artificial turf system and 10-lane track on the straightaway. Cost: $ 6 Million (Approximate)Photo,