West Des Moines Community School District Tiger Field Renovation

Located in West Des Moines, IA

Having only a six-lane track disqualified West Des Moines Valley High School from being able to host district conferences or meets. Knowing that these types of events could bring in potential revenue from increased concession sales and local business patronage, the school needed to upgrade to an eight-lane track.
West Des Moines Valley High School also wanted to capitalize on the green space within the track by using it as a football practice field and soccer competition field. Ideally, the space would be used by PE classes and a community lacrosse team as well.

Shive-Hattery provided a basic site plan and associated costs for a new eight-lane track, synthetic turf for a practice field inside the track, a new press box, new sports lighting, and a bleacher capacity upgrade. The original six-lane track was successfully upgraded to eight lanes, along with the addition of new long-jump runways and two new shot put rings. This larger size not only lets Valley High School host district conferences and meets, but also provides more surface area and leads to longer life for the track. An oversized, 225-foot-wide, multi-purpose synthetic turf field was designed to fit within the eight-lane track. Games, practices, and PE classes can now be held outside on the field, even when the ground is wet.

New sports field lighting and sound systems improve the fan experience and the use of the field. The bleachers were expanded from 700 to nearly 2,000 to accommodate more spectators. The school also moved forward with a new storage building, as well as a new restrooms/concessions building complete with a ticket window.

Both the West Des Moines community and Valley High School are benefiting from the upgrades to Tiger Field. The track expansion allows the school to host district track meets and competitions – something that wasn't possible prior to the renovation. Expanded seating means that the school can now accommodate other large events as well, including graduation ceremonies that may occur on the field in the future. At 225 feet wide, the synthetic turf field is 45 feet wider than the previous natural-grass field. PE classes, practices, and meets are held outside without as much consideration for the weather or field conditions. The new lighting has also allowed Tiger Field to extend its hours of operation.