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Martin Complex- "Back the Track" Campaign     Click for Larger Image

  • Walking Trail

  • Track

  • Football Field

  • Bleachers

  • Concessions

  • Parking

The ACSDF Board is currently focused on developing the existing 25 acres of the Martin Complex located 1/2 mile south of Alburnett. The area is being developed both for the benefit of the community and the school.

The project includes a walking trail, all-weather surface track, and football practice and game fields as well as baseball/softball diamonds. A pavilion and a playground are slated for future completion. It is a goal to create a park like setting and provide a wide variety of recreational options at the complex.

"Back the Track" Campaign                                                       

The Martin Complex Development will be paid for through the fundraising efforts of the "Back the Track" campaign. The estimated total cost is $992,000. Details

The Foundation would appreciate your financial support for the campaign. Donors can use their tax-deductible contributions to symbolically buy meters of the track. Each 8 lane meter of the 3200 meter track equates to a donation of $310. Become a Foundation Member Now!

Phase 1 - Back the Track Campaign/ Martin Complex

Phase I development of the Martin Complex was completed in 2006. This phase consisted of land acquisition, site cleanup, grading/tiling for the ball fields, parking lot and driveway through the complex, tree planting and construction of a community walking trail around the complex perimeter.

Walking Trail & Trees

In October 2005, an asphalt walking trail was completed. Alburnett Students use the trail as part of physical education classes. Students at Martin Complex 

The trees along the trail were obtained through a Trees Forever grant and planted with the assistance of Alburnett FFA students. The Foundation was also awarded a $2500 Alliant Energy Foundation Community Grant to assist with completion of the walking trail.

Pictured to the right are Alburnett students doing some spring cleanup at the site in May 2009. 

Youth Diamonds

The lower youth baseball/softball diamond was completed Summer 2007. (see picture) This was made possible through a $5,000 grant from the Minnesota Twins Community Fund and a $7,000 donation from the Alburnett Sports Booster Club, along with the time and or services of many persons in the community. Learn More  Additionally a $3000 Witwer Trust grant was was used to purchase cement picnic tables for use at the ball diamond. This is the third grant we have received from the Witwer Trust, totaling $9,000. Starting in the Summer of 2008, little league ball games were held at the lower youth diamond.

Phase 2 - Back the Track Campaign/Martin Complex

The Foundation board is currently in the capital fund raising stage for Phase II. Phase will include an 8-lane/400-meter/all-weather track, football field, practice field, concessions/storage facility, bleachers, crow’s nest and parking area.  This phase includes grading, tiling, irrigation, fencing, water, sewer, electricity, lighting, football field accessories, track accessories and seeding. We have also included our remaining land payment, our loan repayments and a contingency amount in our project scope and cost estimate.

Phase 2 Progress

Thanks to Foundation member Bob Berry's work with the City of Alburnett, property owner Rick Smith and contractor Rick Harger with H&H construction, a sanitary sewer line was been extended to the Martin complex. The sewer line extension was completed at significant cost savings to all parties involved.

By the Summer of 2007, a parking lot was established along the east side of the complex. A well was also drilled, with work completed and donated by Lyle McBurney.

In 2008, the following work was completed at the complex:

  • 1st Youth Ball Diamond - Completed infield lime, base/outfield foul pole setting and cement work outside the backstop on the lower youth ball diamond. The new diamond is used extensively by many Alburnett community youth for baseball games, softball games and football practice.

  • A storage shed was built for ball diamond supplies and equipment.

  • Two sets of 4-row bleachers and two circular cement picnic tables were purchased for the new ball diamond.

  • Rough grading for the track and football field was nearly completed. This work was again delayed in 2008 due to a very wet spring and early summer as well as an early winter.

2009 projects included the following:

  • Second youth ball diamond
  • Grading of the remainder of the complex.
  • Tiling of the remainder of the complex both inside and around the track perimeter.
  • Prep work for installing a three-phase electrical service completed as of December 2009.
  • Installation of a well pump, pressure tank and hydrant
  • Raise the height of and improve drainage for portions of the walking trail.
  • Construction of the track and football field could begin as soon as one year after completion of the grading and tiling, once the ground has adequately settled. The leadership gift of $150,000 from the Morris Neighbor Family and Farmers State Bank will underwrite the cost of the track.

Alburnett Boy Scout Troop 504 Eagle Quest is an additional set of projects being worked at the complex, starting in the Fall of 2009.  The 5 projects for 5 Eagle Scouts include:

  1. 2 Horseshoe pits and benches

  2. Sand Volleyball court

  3. Fitness stations along the walking trail

  4. Landscaping

  5. Painting dugouts, mulching around trees and landscaping along the trail.

As of December 2009, landscaping for six fitness stations along the walking trail has been completed and two horseshoe pits and benches were constructed in the northwest corner of the complex.

2010 Updates

As of May 2010, rough grading of the football field and practice field areas has been completed by Taube Excavation. Glen Wickman extended the sewer line from the north property boundary to the future location of the concession/restroom/storage building. Alliant Energy will soon be installing 3-phase electrical service and a transformer.

Our development priorities for the remainder of 2010 (as funding allows) include the following:

  • complete rough grading

  • tiling and irrigation inside the track oval

  • finish grading and seeding

  • installation of several surface drains along the walking trail

  • improvements to walking trail

  • complete driveway through the complex

  • additional Eagle Scout projects

  • tiling and liming of infield of the upper all diamond

Donations of skilled labor, general labor, building materials and equipment could greatly reduce the estimated total cost and duration for Phase 2. Please contact a Foundation Board Member or Al Sorensen at 378-3914 is you have an interest in helping with this phase.

 

 

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