The Columbia school board was able to see initial plans for a renovated Walter Payton Field at Gardner Stadium during a work session Wednesday.
Architect Jamie Wier with the Wier Boerner Allin Architecture firm of Jackson gave a two-hour presentation and said the proposal calls for keeping the football field in the same location.
“I could not imagine not having the football field here where the great Walter Payton played,” he said.
He said in addition to the football stadium the plan addresses incorporating a track, new bleachers on both sides, concessions, restrooms, how it will impact the baseball stadium and surrounding streets.
While the architect said it was not a formal presentation, just what his thoughts are, the board members were smiling at the plans.
“I’m kind of excited,” Vice President Rene Dungan said.
Wier said, “The first thing that broke my heart when I went to the stadium is the Walter Payton statue. It was out on the field, so you can’t get near it. I want to be able to get it back to a focal point for an honorable position with the players and parents and everyone can appreciate it.”
Once you walk in on the home side, there would be a small plaza that will be the new location of the statue so it can be approached by everyone. Wier said the plaza could be used for award areas and presentations as well.
He said the parameters he used in his design focused on not moving the lights, staying in the same location and whether the new design would encroach on the baseball field. The plans have everything fitting and the only encroachment on the baseball field is in foul territory in right field.
Wier used Payton, the late NFL Hall of Famer widely considered one of the greatest running backs of all time who played at CHS, as his inspiration for the plans. The small structures that will house the ticket windows are based loosely on the classical Roman architecture style used at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears, for whom Payton starred from 1975 to 1987. The blocks used would match the blocks with the current home locker room.
By building the ticket structures, it allows for a more secure entry at the gates instead of a card table.
The plan that was shown to the board would seat 4,000 people, but Weir said the school board could always decrease the number of the bleachers. The bleachers would go higher up instead of expanding wider so the lights would not have to be moved. He said they can be moved but not moving them would save money.
Concessions for the home side would be built under the bleachers. Ramps would be on both sides and from underneath to allow easy access for the handicapped and elderly to enter the bleachers.
On the visitor’s side the ticket building would be built so it would contain the restrooms and concessions.
The visitor’s locker room would be updated as well, again with the same matching blocks. In addition a second locker room would be set up in the same area to allow for soccer or other sports’ needs.
The plan incorporates the baseball area as well. A plaza is set up in a triangular area between the bleachers for the football stadium, the home team locker room and the baseball field. This, according to Wier’s plan, would allow the concession stands in the football bleachers to be used for baseball as well.
Wier said they were not ready to discuss costs yet because there were more variables that needed to be discussed.
The school district has applied for a grant with the NFL to pay for the new stadium but have not heard anything yet.
Wier advised if the district wants to have the new stadium ready by next year, construction would have to begin as soon as the last game this year has been played.
The board will continue to hold work sessions to continue developing plans for the stadium.
