Photo submitted to Times Observer Erik Pearson of the Warren Sports Boosters accepts a check from Superior Tire and Rubber Corp. for $50,000 toward the War Memorial Field renovation campaign from Warren Area High School track athlete Katie Beyer and Beaty-Warren Middle School track athlete Emma Peterson.

With a start date looming, major contributions to the renovations at War Memorial Field continue to arrive.

In April, Superior Tire became the latest major supporter of the project, contributing $50,000.

“Superior Tire and its employees are pleased to be able to assist the Warren Sports Boosters maintain our excellent facility for all present and future athletes,” President and CEO Hank LeMeur said. “An active and attractive community which we are proud of is critical to growing our business by supporting our employees and recruiting talent to Warren County. We appreciate the Sports Boosters commitment to Warren Memorial Field for 25 years and look to help in future as well.”

The campaign target is $1,000,000 and, with Superior’s donation, the total so far is $850,000.

The boosters plan to move forward with the renovations before they reach the goal, if necessary.

The first step in the project, expected to start in early June, is to dig well below the track to prepare for a new base and a new athletic surface.

The turf on the field will follow.

The project also includes renovations to the locker rooms, bathrooms, and the stadium sound systems, and other parts of the facility.

The target completion date is early August.

War Memorial Field is overdue for an upgrade. The project that developed the site into its current look, with an artificial turf field, home and away bleachers, and the track was completed in 1999.

The track has been patched over the years, but the surface is original to the 1999 project, Warren Sports Boosters President Mike Boyd said.

The turf was last replaced in 2008.

Boyd said the field surface is expected to last eight to 10 years and the track should last 15 to 17.

The boosters have been diligent with “routine and special maintenance” over the years, knowing the cost of replacing the surfaces.

Initially, the total cost of replacing the track and field was set at $900,000. The boosters set the goal at $1 million to allow for the work at the entire facility.

Through the pandemic, supply chain issues, and other market forces, the number continues to rise and the start of the work does not signify the end of the fund-raising.