JC Begins Work on Intramural Fields
 

Jacksonville Daily Progress
By Matt DeWalt - Progress Sports Editor
July 4, 2005

Jacksonville College is beginning to grow and take a new shape. 

Firday morning, crews cleared and tilled 7.44 acres of land behind the Curtis Carroll Field House with the intention of creating intramural baseball and soccer fields for the college.

"We're trying to get us a baseball field and a soccer field fixed out here for intramurals," said Jacksonville College President Dr. Edwin Crank.  "We're not going to start collegiate sports.  We're just going to do this for intramural purposes."

Crank said there is a possibility for collegiate sports to be played on the field once they are completed, but that's not going to happen any time soon.

"It's a possibility," Crank said, "but nothing is planned for the immediate future."

After purchasing the land and clearing the field, the cost of the project will readch $125,000, most of which has been raised through alumni and friends of the college.

There is no time schedule set for the completion of the project.  That will be determined by the amount of money JC is able to raise when more money is needed. 

"It's going to take about another month of getting it leveled, and then we'll have to go from there," Crank said.  "We are going to do it as funds come up.  We're not going to go in debt for it."

Crank said he was excited to see the field project get underway and is anxiously awaiting the next phase.

"I wish the month was gone by, and we were through and moving on," Crank said.  "It's exciting."

There are some tasks that will take time and slow the completion of the project, but Crank said the college is taking steps to make the process a little easier.

"The land's a powder house," Crank said.  "They have a water truck out there and, and we've got a meter set on the fire plug (across the field) so they can water the ground.  Hopefully by next week, things will start looking a lot different.  We've got to get this cut down and cleaned up first." 

"It's going to make this part of town look a lot better," Crank said.

Crank said the fields are something that the students have asked for, but they will also comply with accreditation standards.

"It is something that the kids have asked about, and our accrediting agency likes for us to have a place for intramural sports outside," Crank said.  "So it's for students and to satisfy accreditation requirements."

Crank said he hopes the new fields will encourage prospective students to choose JC when looking at possible schools to further their education.

"Everything we do is to help bring students to Jacksonville College," Crank said.  "At least, we hope it does."

For more information about Jacksonville College, please contact Admissions at:
 

(903) 586-2518 or (800) 256-8522

Jacksonville College

105 B. J. Albritton Dr.

Jacksonville, TX 75766

admissions@jacksonville-college.edu

www.jacksonville-college.edu