FORT LUPTON — Some of the overhaul of Fort Lupton’s athletic facilities is underway. More will be on the way during the coming months. It comes courtesy of a successful mill levy override in the Weld Re-8 School District in 2012.

New fencing is in place around the baseball field. There are plans for new practice field near Butler Elementary School and to build new tennis courts on school grounds.

“We’ve had a girls team for six years, so the courts are overdue,” FLHS athletic director Joseph Gutierrez said. “I’m happy the kids will be able to come back and get to host some tennis matches. Our fans haven’t been able to stop by and check them out. The tennis team will get the exposure they deserve.”

Kalley Harriss, who qualified for the state 4A tennis tournament this season, also earned first-team, all-conference and player of the year honors in the Colorado 7 League. FLHS hasn’t hosted a match since the team started play. The tennis courts are cracked, and there isn’t enough room for the entire team of players — 11 in all – to practice at the same time.

“It hasn’t been easy for our coach, Christy Blanchard, to coach,” Gutierrez said. “This is what she needs, and this is what she deserves. I thank her for sticking it through.”

Gutierrez is hoping the new courts will increase participation on the girls team and, perhaps, draw enough interest to field a boys squad in the future.

The money will help fund construction of a new outdoor track south of Bob Felps field. And then there’s a new football field in the works for 2015.

“We’re going to pull it up, put new grass on it,” Gutierrez said. “The soccer and football teams will play their games (five for the football team and eight for the soccer team) in the stadium this season. We should be OK, as far as the field goes. Our maintenance crews do a good job of taking care of the field.

“We’ve got a lot to get done, but we’re off to a good start.”

Contact Sports Editor Steve Smith at
ssmith@metrowestnewspapers.com.