The image above shows the plan for a new football field for Bunsold Middle School on Route 4. The plan was approved by Marysville’s design review board on Wednesday. It will have a turf field, track field, bleachers and a building for concessions and restrooms.
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The Marysville Design Review Board got its first look at a new football field for Bunsold Middle School Wednesday night.
The board unanimously approved Marysville Schools’ design for its new Bunsold Middle School football field. Assistant Superintendent Jonathan Langhals spoke to the board about the project, along with John Kelleher of MSA Architects and Megan Cyr with the Kleingers Group, a management company.
The project includes a turf field, a track around the field and seating for up to about 400 people. There will be a structure housing restrooms and the field’s concession stand. Officials said that building will be capable of serving both the new football field and the existing baseball field.
It is part of the $8.9 million football stadium project in the district.
“It’s a pretty exciting project for our community,” Langhals said.
Board member Pete Griffin had questions about access to the facility and school from Southard Road. He said he lives in that area and has a vested interest in it.
“I was under the impression that the whole parcel was part of the school parcel,” Griffin said.
Mike White, director of business services for Marysville Schools, said the only property there is the old Bunsold house, then much of the property going down Southard belongs to the school.
Griffin asked if there are any future plans to extend a roadway from Southard Road to the school. White said there’s potential for an access or emergency roadway.
Griffin also asked about the schools’ requirement to put pathways along the street.
Cyr said the district has concerns about that project. She said there’s approximately 1,600 feet of sidewalk along Route 4 that would be installed. Langhals said while the district cares about connectivity, it would like to work with the city on the placement of the future sidewalk.
Griffin said he’d prefer the front sidewalk plan to stay.
“My take on this whole thing is sidewalks are going to be an integral part of a developing city,” Griffin said.
Officials clarified the plan has been for the schools to provide the frontage to the city, which would then install a path at a later date.
Board member Brett Garrett asked if there are any trees being taken down during the project and if they would be replaced.
City Planner Chad Flowers said for a project like this, city code requires any tree at least 18 inches in diameter be replaced. He said the applicant would work with city engineering whenever they came across such a tree.