Utah amateur sports backers hope to have a world-class track and field facility near Salt Lake City's West High School completed by 1991 in an attempt to carve another niche for Utah in the international sports world.
The Salt Lake Education Foundation/Track and Field Project is setting out to raise private funds for the $3.9 million project to supplement nearly $1.6 million in city and school district funds already dedicated.Foundation officials say the facility could advance Utah, currently bidding for the 1998 Winter Olympics, as an international sports city by bringing a complex to Salt Lake City that could host major track and field events.
"This is one of the things that's missing in Salt Lake that would be economically and socially good for the community," said Wayne Evans, foundation spokesman.
Further, the Salt Lake City School District needs to replace its current substandard facility at 241 N. 300 West, Evans said.
The school district is donating $1.4 million to the project - $900,000 of that in cash, the balance in donated land for the track complex, to be located across 300 West from West High in an open athletic field.
Salt Lake City also agreed to close a street, valued at $193,000, to make way for the facility.
Now, the foundation will begin approaching the private sector for support for the project, said Olene Walker, responsible for fund raising for the project.
"It's an ambitious project. It started out like, "do you think we can do this,' and now it's mushroomed with a lot of enthusiasm," Walker said.
West High alumni, Utah track groups and major corporations will be approached for contributions, Walker said.
Evans said construction on one of three plans for the facility could begin this spring or summer.
The foundation now has three plans on line, the first and least expensive plan calling for 850 permanent seats and costing $886,900, Walker said.
The second plan is designed to accommodate 6,000 permanent seats and 14,700 temporary seats, costing $2.9 million. The third plan calls for 12,000 permanent seats and 11,700 temporary seats, costing $3.9 million, Walker said.
Walker said the foundation hopes to build a track under the third plan but will do so only if the foundation can raise enough money.
The quarter-mile track would include a 100-meter straight track on each side. Additionally, a baseball field would be built in a separate but nearby area, Evans said.