The City of Olpe had a pair of reasons to celebrate Friday night, and they did just that, starting with the grand official opening of the city’s new football field.
The event filled the stands of the new, better-than-$2 million stadium, which was constructed as the first phase of the Olpe Fitness Park Project. The project was made possible through the efforts of many individuals and events organized and led by the Olpe Fitness Park Committee and funded largely by individual donations on top of grants and contributions from various funds and trusts.
Olpe Fitness Park Committee Member Tyler Schmidt says it was a surreal night to see what has been a dream for many years become a reality.
Superintendent Ryan Muhlig recalled coming to the district just a few years ago and the fitness park project being one of the first things to come across his desk. Muhlig admitted at first, he didn’t know if it was possible, but that was when he learned to never doubt the Olpe community.
Former Superintendent and Kansas 17th District Senator Mike Argabright says Friday’s festivities were a long time coming and he was proud to see it come to fruition.
During the official groundbreaking of the facility a year ago, TJ Hallice, Vice President of Sales for ATG Sport, the company that handled the project, stated that when it comes to smaller communities such as Olpe, the pride of the community is larger than anywhere else. He reiterated that statement to KVOE News Friday and added he is very excited for what is still to come.
The new $2.7 million field and track came as part of phase one of the fitness park project, with construction already underway for phase two, which will include a multipurpose building for restrooms, concessions and maintenance equipment, as well as a completed fitness trail for Olpe Jones Park and a long-awaited splash pad.
In addition to comments from local leaders and the Olpe Fitness Park Committee, Friday’s event also included free hot dogs, a blessing of the field and a scrimmage of the Olpe football team. Once those activities concluded, the community made their way about a football field’s length away to the Olpe City Park for the latest Lyon County Front Porch Jam, which was celebrating the homecoming of one of their own.
Friday’s concert was benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of Wichita, which provided tremendous service and care for Olpe’s Darren Heins, who was severely injured in a vehicle accident last year. On hand for the concert were the Heins Family as well as Lynne (Lin-ay) Fletchall, Director of the Ronald McDonald House of Wichita.
KVOE News spoke with both Fletchall and Stacy Heins, Darren’s mother, during the concert, with Heins noting the care and love the national non-profit provided to their family during her son’s recovery. She says their entire community rallied around them and Ronald McDonald House quickly became a part of that community.
Fletchall says it was heartwarming and eye-opening to hear those words, saying it truly puts their work in perspective.
Friday’s concert featured music from The Bunkhouse Squatters and Sam Bland and the Firewatchers and raised more than $3,000 for Ronald McDonald House. We have a YouTube Short of the football field grand opening available here. For a YouTube Short from Friday’s Front Porch Jam, click here.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
