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Five donors have pledged $1.5 million to rehabilitate the more than 30-year-old track and football stadium at Omaha’s Blackburn Alternative High School.
The Omaha Public Schools would need to kick in another $250,000 to complete the project, said Jerry Bartee, assistant superintendent for business services.
If the school board approves the funding, the project would start next spring. The donors wish to remain anonymous.
Efforts to raise the money began more than three years ago.
Blackburn’s stadium, near the school at 26th and Hamilton Streets, is used regularly by the neighboring Boys & Girls Club, several summer league teams and at least nine schools’ elementary field days annually.
The upgrade would also mean access to a regulation-size track for Omaha Central High School, Bartee said. Central’s stadium does not have a regulation track, and the school hosts its annual meet at Burke High School.
It was Central’s Seemann Stadium, which opened in fall 2005, that started the district’s effort to upgrade its fields.
Five years ago, Bartee said, the commitment was made that “Central would be the standard” for competition fields. Blackburn’s update, he said, “would complete the commitment to existing stadiums.”
Omaha’s North High School does not have a home stadium.
Facilities at Benson, Burke and Northwest High Schools have been updated. Bryan High School’s track and field are being upgraded and will be ready for fall contests.
Like Central, Omaha South’s new stadium, which opened this fall, was paid for largely with donations.
Contact the writer:
444-1037, michaela.saunders@owh.com
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