New Track and Football Facility

The Wagner, SD Community School District decided it was time to upgrade their track and football facility and to complete renovations inside the school. DGR Engineering (DGR) teamed with Puetz Design + Build to provide solutions to meet the school district’s needs. DGR completed the civil design work for the new track and football field, and Puetz Design + Build planned the building renovations.

The school's previous track had deteriorated and experienced many cracks due to aging, poor sub-grade soils, and inadequate drainage. A geotechnical investigation was completed early in the design process to determine the quality of the underlying soils. Five different options were analyzed and presented to the school for the granular and soil section below the new asphalt track. Each alternative was evaluated based on estimated cost, anticipated frost movement, and quality of drainage. Ultimately it was decided to proceed with a cement stabilized sub-grade, an 18-inch-thick layer of non-frost susceptible drainage fill, and an aggregate base course under the new asphalt and polyurethane track surface. The proposed section will limit frost movement and provide improved drainage.

A new drainage system was installed along the interior of the track to improve drainage under the track and within the football field. The system consists of perforated polyethylene pipe around the perimeter of the field and panel drains that run across the field to remove moisture from the granular base.

The school wanted to explore the possibility of installing an artificial turf football field in lieu of a natural grass field. DGR assisted in the decision-making process by preparing a life-cycle cost analysis for each alternative. The artificial turf field was ultimately chosen because the field can be used significantly more times throughout the year versus a natural turf field, and the long-term maintenance costs will be less even though there is a higher initial cost.

This project also included concrete curbing along the track edge, new chain link fence around the perimeter of the facility with a concrete mow strip, two pole vault runways and a landing area, four long/triple jump runways and landing pits, a paved “D” area within the track for high jump, new goal posts, renovations in the school, and much more.