New Jackson Football Park nearly complete

Initial construction on the Jackson Football Park between West Main Street and Route PP on West Jackson Boulevard is mostly complete, according to Todd Schneider, president of the Jackson Area Youth Football League.

The completed stage, which Schneider labeled as Phase IA, included new grading, grass seeding and the installation of water lines to irrigate the fields. Two of the park's three fields will be able to be used this fall.

Schneider said the cost of Phase IA was roughly $80,000 and was sponsored by private donations and volunteered labor and equipment. As long as the project proceeds with volunteers, Jackson cannot provide any money.

"In order to complete the rest" of Phase I, Schneider said, "it will exhaust the funds of the league."

But Schneider was not sure how much the rest would cost.

"We haven't really sat down and totaled pencil to paper yet," Schneider said.

For future funding, Schnei­der said the Jackson Area Football League would look for funding from larger corporations, such as Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola and seek federal and state grants. The league will hold its fourth annual golf tournament later in June to raise money.