Viroqua School & Community Sports Facility

The outdoor athletic facilities at Viroqua Area Schools have served the community well over the years; however, it is time to return them to a source of pride for the area. The Viroqua School and Community Sports Facility Committee, a non-profit organization, has developed a three-phase plan to update and revamp the outdoor facilities over the next three years. The cost for the entire project is $1.5 million and will be raised through public and private donations and grants.

Viroqua has a proud history of fundraising for special community projects, and we need your financial assistance. Please join the committee in making this project a reality by making a donation to the Viroqua Area Foundation for the Viroqua School and Community Sports Facility. We are certain that with all of us working together we will raise the funds necessary to build athletic facilities we can all be proud of for years to come.

The Viroqua School & Community Sports Facility project is accepting online donations.  To donate directly to this project online, please click the button below.  Otherwise, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss the many ways you can contribute.

A letter will be mailed to you stating the donation amount for IRS tax reporting purposes if your donation is over $250.

The Problem

Rain water pools on the surface of the football field

Football Field & Track

• The football Field is not crowned, so it floods during heavy rains (see photo above), creating a muddy, uneven, and dangerous playing surface.  The field also lacks an irrigation system so it becomes excessively hard during dry periods, resulting in the possibility of more injuries to students and athletes.
• Rain water pools on the asphalt running track as well.  It is now riddled with cracks and crevices due to the freezing and thawing of the standing water.  This hard and cracked surface can cause injuries not only to the athletes and students who use the track, but also to the community members who use the track for walking, jogging, and rollerblading.

Bleachers, Concession Stand, & Press Box

• Our current bleachers are not handicap accessible and do not meet code.  There is no running water in the concession area, which creates a potential sanitation issue, and the press box and sound system need updating.  The cost of annual repairs and upkeep to these old facilities has exceeded the school's ability to pay for them.  New facilities would be as maintenance-free as possible.

Tennis Courts, Parking, & Restrooms

• The tennis courts are very cracked and have been sealed so many times that this process can no longer repair the cracks.  Players have to use special rules for when the ball hit a crack.  There are not enough courts to host most school tournaments or to accommodate the community's recreational players, who often have to wait in line.
• The parking situation is very haphazard with no hard surface at all and no handicap accessibility.  There are no public restrooms or running water.  Portable toilets are used at present, which are not handicap accessible, and there is not a place to wash your hands after using the restrooms.

The Solution

Site plan for the revamped Viroqua School & Community Sports Facility

The Viroqua School & Community Sports Facility Committee has come up with a three-phase plan to update and revamp all of the outdoor facilities over the next several years.  The cost for the entire project is $1.5 million which will be raised over the next three years through public and private donations and grants.

This plan includes:

• Crowning the football field for water drainage and adding an irrigation system to create a safer and more durable surface.
• Replacing the asphalt track with a modern rubberized surface which is softer, safer, and will not allow for standing water.  The track will also be widened from 8 to 9 lanes so that Viroqua can host regional and sectional track meets.
• Constructing a new 1,5000 seat handicap accessible grandstand/concession/press box structure with running water, a new sound system, and enclosed storage area.
• Creating a new blacktop, handicap accessible parking lot, and entrance area with an overflow parking area.
• Constructing a new six-court tennis area on the south end of the existing parking area.
• Building a new handicap accessible, public restroom facility with team meeting and equipment storage areas.
• Constructing a new 2,000 foot community walking/biking path around the entire outdoor athletic facility.

The Benefits

The benefits of an updated School and Community Outdoor Sports Facility will be felt throughout the entire Viroqua area.  Here is a partial list of those benefits:

• The crowned and irrigated football field and new track and tennis court surfaces will mean the potential for fewer injuries for students, athletes, and community members who use the facilities.  The grass surface of the field will also be stronger, meaning that it could be used for physical education classes, marching band practices, football practices, and football games from Middle School through Varsity levels.

• The updated facilities will allow Viroqua to host tournament events in football, track, and tennis which saves the cost of transporting our athletes, show-cases our community, and brings in additional dollars to our local business economy.

• The new community walking/biking path will promote a healthy lifestyle and will benefit people of all ages by providing a beautiful and safe area for walking, jogging, biking, skateboarding, and rollerblading.

• The blacktop parking area and entrance means parking will be easier and safer for fans and participants, and accessible for handicapped citizens.

• A new concession stand and press box with plumbing will provide for proper sanitation for the concession workers.  The new sound system will allow for better audio presentation at events.  The new handicap accessible restrooms will provide proper sanitation for everyone using the facilities.

• The new 1,500-seat grandstand area will have handrails and will be safer and more comfortable for fans, and will create accessibility for handicapped citizens.

• A team meeting area will provide players and coaches shelter while they plan their strategies before games.  The attached storage facility will help maintain equipment in a proper location so that it will stay in better condition for a longer period of time, thus reducing replacement costs.

For more information, please see the school's version of the project website.