Rolla Public Schools

Repairs on the RHS Football and Softball Fields Underway

If you’ve driven down 10th Street in the past few weeks, you’ve noticed a large project underway at Lion’s Memorial Field. There are a few things going on within this construction project. First, the retaining wall at the bottom of the bleachers is being removed and replaced. The wall was beginning to buckle in places due to serious drainage issues under the surface, causing potential safety concerns. The wall had to be removed to access the drains and replace them with larger pipes to accommodate the heavy watershed from the bleachers and the parking lot near the gate. Once the drainage issue is resolved, the turf on the field will be removed and replaced. All stadium lights will be replaced during the renovations of the field, as well as the lights at the soccer and baseball fields. Installation of the new LED lights will result in lower energy costs and less maintenance for the district over their lifetime. These lighting upgrades are part of the 2023 voter-approved bond issue.

The original turf was installed in 2013 and was funded through donations from local businesses and individuals. The lifetime expectancy of turf is around ten years, meaning the RHS turf is almost 3 years past its expiration date. Any athlete, band member, or PE student can tell you the turf has been rapidly deteriorating over the past two years. Replacement of the turf will be paid for using district capital projects funds set aside specifically for this purpose. The expected completion date is April, 2026. In the meantime, our PE classes will use the field house, and any field activities will be moved to the soccer field.

Repairs have also started on the softball field behind Rolla Middle School. The March 14, 2025, tornado nearly demolished the field, requiring extensive repairs. The concession stand, bleachers, scoreboard, and fence will need to be replaced entirely, and the playing surface will be graded and seeded. These repairs will be covered entirely by the district’s insurance policy. The anticipated completion date is late spring of 2026, but that will be largely dependent on the weather and conditions for reestablishing the grass on the field.

The RHS Baseball complex is scheduled to receive some maintenance this spring, too. Our Buildings & Grounds team is working with Coach Hohe to create long-range plans for improvements to address handicap parking, batting cages, and bullpens.

We will share progress updates with you in the coming weeks and months, as we know you’ll be eager to enter these spaces to cheer on the Bulldogs! Thank you for your patience as we work to make our spaces safe, modern, and accessible for all.