The committee working on the Atlantic facilities improvement plan presented their latest project proposal to business and community leaders on Thursday at the Atlantic High School auditorium. After looking further into the project some adjustments were made to improve safety and get the most out of the project budget of 9.5 million dollars.

The two major adjustments were eliminating the proposed street that would have connected Linn Street to 14th Street to the west of the middle school and moving the synthetic turf from the Trojan Bowl to the high school field.

After consulting with law enforcement it was determined that there was a safer alternative to the street going through. The parking spaces in front of Washington school would be eliminated to create an off street drop off zone. Bus drop off and pick up would all occur in the parking lot behind the middle school to alleviate bus congestion from 14th street. This was already the drop off zone in the morning so it made sense to officials to make it the pick up area as well. A new faculty parking lot just to the west of Washington would be constructed by removing at least a portion of the tennis courts that sit there now.

The field turf was moved to the high school facility to better accommodate activities and practices at the high school. The field would be used by the soccer teams for practice and games, the football team for practice, and for marching band practice. This adjustment would also eliminate the previous proposal for construction of a team building at the Trojan Bowl.

Updates at the Trojan bowl would still include a new 4-lane track that would accommodate the newly widened natural grass playing surface and improved sloping around the perimeter. A new press box and addition of a visitor press box along with new ADA compliant bleachers. A new concrete apron would be put in place around the facility as well along with a new concession/restroom/storage building.

The proposal also has tennis courts being built north of the track at the high school and new shotput and discus areas to the south to eliminate competition for space between track and soccer in the spring.

The baseball and softball complex improvements include; new dugouts, batting cages, concessions, and press boxes. Terracing of the hill behind the fields is also proposed to help water run-off issues.

The committee said two public forums are being planned to inform the community of the plan.

The proposal is scheduled to go in front of school district voters on April 2. Early voting on the project starts March 4. Polls on April 2 Bond election are scheduled to be open from noon to 8:00 p.m., with early voting at 8:00 a.m. on election day at the Cass County Auditor’s Office.