Teeters Field project nears completion

KELLOGG –– Sometimes projects come together in a way that can’t be explained – and the new concession stand at Teeters Field is a testament to that.

Teeters Field has seen its fair share of upgrades over the years – but the city of Kellogg is putting the finishing touches on the biggest series of modifications to date – including the brand new 750 square-foot concession stand and restroom facility, a ticket booth, and an ADA-compliant viewing platform.

It was more than three years ago that the Kellogg City Council began seeking out bids to replace the aging concession stand at the iconic football field – when those bids came in higher than what was both expected and affordable for the city, the project was moved to the back burner.

Teeters Field has a history unto itself – after the bleachers that occupied the southwest corner of the field were burnt down and rebuilt on the field’s south hill, a small concrete outbuilding was constructed about 10 feet from the end line of the football’s west endzone.

For the next 70 years that building would house the concession stand and bathroom facilities for Teeters Field.

“It was on its last legs,” Kellogg Public Works director Mike Fitzgerald said. “It had gotten its life use of it. That’s probably the best way to put it.”

Weather, vermin, and aging infrastructure all plagued the old building – but it had also become a safety concern for the Kellogg School District.

The Idaho High School Activities Association, the governing body for all public high school athletics in the state, informed the school district and city a few years ago that their current building was too close to the back end of the western endzone of the football field and could pose a safety threat to a player.

They were also reportedly told that due to this concern, they were not going to be allowed to host any state playoff football games until it was rectified.

While this new mandate from the IHSAA presented a new level of urgency for the project to be completed, the city had been working toward a new concession stand for quite some time.

A big part of those efforts was attributed to the work of Craig Lewis.

Lewis was Kellogg’s previous public works director when he suddenly and unexpectedly passed away in January 2022.

During his time with the city, Lewis had been instrumental in several large projects, including a full replacement and upgrade of the city’s sewer system and city streets.

Lewis knew that one of the challenges with any new construction at Teeters Field would be ensuring that the proper utilities could be in place. Which is why, when the project moved down toward the intersection at McKinley Avenue and Hill Street, he made sure that the city would have the that they needed for any potential project.

“He had the foresight to make sure that the plumbing and water were put in in a way that all that would need to happen was a simple tie-in,” Fitzgerald said of Lewis. “He was making sure that when the time came, these wouldn’t be issues the city would have to overcome.”

In the spring of 2022, local concrete contractor Tony Silva began pouring a large pad on the western end of the field’s bleachers, an area that was historically unused by spectators due to its location outside of the stadium’s covered seating.

The foundation work was completed by the beginning of summer 2022 – but then the project hit a series of snags that stalled any further construction.

Because of the type of foundation that was laid, the building plans and designs needed to be changed – which changed the needed materials, all while in the midst of severe issues with global supply chains – the city was forced to wait.

These unforeseen factors led to some irritation from the community at large – many wanted to see the field completed before the football season, just in case the Wildcats found themselves in a position to host a playoff game.

Despite a successful and record-breaking season, that scenario never materialized after the Wildcats were bounced from the playoffs following a first-round loss at Bear Lake.

The other concern was how the city was spending the funds that they had received for the new building.

Through a series of donations, fundraisers, and other funding means, $160,000 was secured for the project – which still wasn’t enough to cover all of the costs associated with the project.

In the meantime, several local business owners began volunteering their services – providing materials and some labor to the project in the hopes that only one football season would have to experience the eyesore that was the unfinished concrete pad.

However, once the momentum began to build around the project, it seemed like everyone wanted an opportunity to be involved – from city and school employees to contractors and building material suppliers.

“A large portion of the work was completed by Public Works staff and Kellogg School District staff,” Fitzgerald said. “Without their efforts, this would’ve never gotten done. And this isn’t their regular duty either. And the work that was being completed by the contractors and professionals was being done at a discounted rate.”

With almost an entire year before the beginning of the next football season, the city made a point to not set a firm date for completion but instead allowed for flexibility which in turn made it easier for everyone who donated their time and effort.

“Once the football went by, the next football season kind of became the hard deadline – If we had farmed out every aspect of the project we probably could’ve had it done a year ago,” Fitzgerald said. “But it would’ve cost a lot more and not had the pride that has come from all of the locals working together on it. The way we’ve done has allowed for people to get involved when and where they can and I think that participation adds to the pride factor of this project.”

According to Fitzgerald, more than $1 million dollars worth of upgrades have been made at Teeters Field over the past 18 months, but with so many generous donations – be it time, materials, or labor – only an estimated $250,000 has been spent.

There is still much to be done for the project to be “finished” – this includes installing appliances within the concession stand, putting some trim around the edges, and getting the ticket booth built – however, during the upcoming all-class reunion, the restroom facilities will be available for use whenever Teeters Field is in use.

Inside the new concession stand, workers will have the ability to move around without running into one another, they won’t have to worry about dangerous and shotty electrical access, and there is also a window that looks out over the field so they can even keep an eye on the action as it unfolds.

The outside of the building is a bit stale by Fitzgerald’s standards, which is something he hopes an adventurous student or citizen can help rectify.

“We left a lot of space for someone to come in and decorate the outside of the building,” Fitzgerald said. “There’s a lot of room for future artistic efforts.”

Even in his absence, Lewis’s fingerprints remain a large part of the project.

Lewis graduated from Kellogg High School in 1978 – where he was a standout football player for the Wildcats.

Now, when folks enter Teeters Field from the southwest entrance they will be greeted by a large placard outside of the concession stand that memorializes Lewis – or “Big Lewi” as he was known to many – in a place that he loved. As a player, a coach, and as a Kellogg alumni.

“Our goal is to announce the dedication of the project to Lewis during the Kellogg High School All-Class Reunion,” Fitzgerald said. “Teeters Field was his baby – He really worked hard to make sure that it was in as good condition as possible. We’re proud to be dedicating this project to a man who cared so deeply about this community.”