Stop us if you’ve heard this before.
For the second consecutive year, the football stadium at Iola’s Riverside Park has a stable full of improvements ready for the public.
An open house is scheduled from 9 to 12 a.m. Saturday to show off the stadium’s latest updates.
Spearheading the projects, once again, is Donna Houser of Iola’s CITF/PRIDE Committee.
She has coordinated the interior work, utilizing money given in donations to CITF/PRIDE and by USD 257.
Since last season wrapped up, crews have:
— Taken several key steps to waterproof the stadium, including resealing seams in the exterior concrete steps and installed new sump pumps in each locker room;
— Added new LED lighting throughout the stadium’s interior, and refurbished both the concession stand and press box areas;
— Repainted the stadium’s interior, which along with the new lighting, created a noticeably brighter environment;
— Replaced the old public address speakers with newer ones;
— Upgraded electrical service to the concession area, and added a sink.
— Replaced one of the stadium’s quirkier elements by replacing the painted “IOLA” letters on the front of the stadium with metal ones. (As patrons occasionally pointed out, the “A” was backward on the old sign.)
AND, AS in last year — when Houser, et al, focused primarily on locker room improvements — a teamwork approach was taken for this year’s work.
In addition to money received from numerous donors — Iola High School alums and former Mustang players have been a key resource — crews from USD 257 have taken a leading role in some of the work, including most of the concession stand improvements.
Iolan Bob Shaughnessy has handled much of the contract work, with Kneisley Manufacturing employees doing much of the interior painting (they had painted much of the interior prior to last season.) B&W Trailer Hitches, meanwhile, has powder-coated metal Mustang logos affixed to the stadium walls.
Now, it’s a matter of finishing the concession stand and doing substantial cleanup work prior to Saturday’s open house.
“We couldn’t clean it any earlier,” Houser noted, “because there was so much work still going on.”
THE IOLA High School class of 1987 also got into the mix, by paying for a new metal sign that designates the home locker room area as the Ray Houser Memorial Locker Room, complete with a pair of old photos of Coach Houser, as well as a celebration scene from the only year Iola beat Pittsburg High School on the gridiron.
Sometime in the next few weeks, another token to the stadium’s 80-year history will be restored.
During the renovations, crews uncovered an old cast iron lantern used years ago for lighting.
Houser figures the lanterns were removed sometime around when the 1986 inland hurricane ripped off the stadium’s old, iconic overhanging roof.
Engineers from B&W are attempting to replicate the lantern, which will be posted on the back side of the stadium.
“They want to make sure they can get one to work before they make all six,” Houser said.
The lanterns will be more ornamental than functional, she added,
“They will be more for show and historical significance than good light,” she said.
THE OPEN house will follow Friday evening’s intra-squad scrimmage under new head coach (and former Mustang standout David Daugharthy.)
The 2017 season opens Sept. 1 at home against Chanute.
“There’s still work to do,” Houser continued, noting restroom accessibility is high on her list of priorities for future improvements.
However, such a project will require more money.
Contributions to the stadium project can be made through Your Community Foundation, which makes any donation tax-deductible.
