Group seeks to renovate Niles stadium

March 10, 2012 at 12:07a.m.

NILES

The head of the citizens committee trying to raise funds to renovate Bo Rein Stadium says the group will have to come up with $800,000 “in four weeks” if it hopes to have the renovations installed in time for the start of the 2012 scholastic football season.

“If we can’t do it, then we have to go to next year,” said Tim Parry, Rein Committee project chairman.

The committee, which Parry said was formed four years ago, wants to replace the stadium turf and add paving. Parry said the committee consists of 20 core members representing school booster groups, businesses and private citizens.

Problems with the playing field have been ongoing, with the worst incident occurring last fall when a Niles varsity football game against Hubbard had to be relocated because of unplayable turf conditions.

So far, the committee has raised only 10 percent of its goal.

“We’ve raised $80,000 in pledges thus far, and I know it’s a long shot, but there is still hope,” said Parry. “We’re talking to a bank and some [potential] major donors.”

Parry said the turf renovations would be the first of two phases the committee has planned for the stadium. He said plans for the second phase include construction of new locker rooms on the north end of the stadium, concession stands and a scoreboard at a cost of $1.75 million. No timetable has been set for the second phase.

The stadium, built in the 1930s and rebuilt in 1967, has had a number of maintenance issues. Private donations in 2008 totaling nearly $150,000 enabled the financially strapped district to fix stadium stairwells in time for the football season.

To donate, email reinfoundation@aol.com or go to nilescityschools.org and click on the Bo Rein Stadium Project link on the home page.