On Saturday, Sept. 13, players stormed onto the brand-new Tower Park complex, their voices echoing with excitement as they stepped onto fresh green turf and a dazzling blue track. This wasn’t just an upgrade; it was a generational shift.
Gone are the days of worn-out fields, dangerous holes in the track, and turf that left athletes frustrated. In their place now stands a facility built for the future: state-of-the-art turf, a pristine track, modern locker rooms, and an atmosphere designed to elevate both players and spectators. For athletes, it’s more than just a field; it’s the start of something bigger, a stage for opportunities and memories yet to come.
The complex, which has stood for 60 years, finally underwent a long-awaited makeover. Originally built in 1964, Tower Park had carried countless generations of athletes through practices, victories, and heartbreaks. However, with time, the wear and tear on the facility became increasingly hard to ignore. Students grew frustrated with its flaws, and coaches knew a renovation was overdue.
Many athletes agreed the remodel wasn’t just wanted, but needed. “The turf was getting really old, and there was little to no parking for players and fans,” soccer player Isa Neufarth (12) said.
But the road to the grand reveal wasn’t easy. Players had grown impatient as the release date changed multiple times.
“The only thing is we kept on being told that it was going to be ready, so we kept having to push back playing dates,” soccer player Maren Orme (10) said.
Frustration wasn’t only about the delays. Athletes pointed out just how outdated and unsafe the old facilities had become.
“Rubber was missing and we couldn’t wear spikes,” cross-country runner Ben Gallagher (12) said.
Soccer players shared similar struggles.
“There were holes in the track, and you couldn’t see the lines,” Ella Jones (11) said.
The concerns went beyond performance; they threatened player safety. With the track running dangerously close to the field, collisions were common.
“People would hit their heads on the concrete strip along the track,” Jones (11) added.
Even the seating created issues. Wooden bleachers sat awkwardly on the hill, while metal ones lined the bottom, forming an arrangement that felt both unstable and unsafe.
“You could fall off of them really easily,” Jones (11) said.
The staircase leading down to the field was rotting, mossy, and slippery, and was a hazard for players wearing cleats.
Even with its flaws, the old Tower Park field held memories that cannot be replaced. From state championships in 2004 and 2005 to everyday practices, the field shaped generations.
“[The field] opened the door for you and all the girls ahead of you and all the girls behind you to show you that it is a possibility… Once you open that possibility that this is within your capabilities, I think it becomes limitless what you can accomplish,” Coach Nina Kearns said.
Tower Park was more than just a facility; it was a community landmark. It was where kids played their first recreation games, where high schoolers built lifelong friendships, and where champions proved themselves on the biggest stages. The new upgrades bring excitement for the future, but the memories of the past remain deeply rooted.
“I think it was parents that built that. It was program members that poured resources, time, and energy into it. So those pieces were hard because they were such projects of love… not that this one isn’t, but for me it’s the things that trigger memories that I guess I miss the most,” Kearns summarized.
