A practice field with an artificial turf surface is being constructed not far from the intersection of Kenyon Road and Triton Plaza.

“It’s going to be a game changer for us,” said Kevin Twait, the college’s athletic director.

“It’s the most exciting thing for athletics that I’ve seen on our campus in all the years I’ve been here,” he added.

Lights will eventually be put up around the field, enabling it to be used after dark.

- Messenger photo by Bill Shea A small mountain of dirt at the south end of the Iowa Central Community College campus along Kenyon Road marks the spot where crews are excavating to create a new artificial turf sports practice field.

“That baby will probably be used from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.,” Twait said.

The practice field project will cost about $2.5 million, according to Ryan Gruenberg, the college’s vice president of operations.

Jensen Builders Ltd., of Fort Dodge, is the construction manager for the project.

Mid America Sports Construction, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, will install the turf.

Rasch Construction Inc., Midwest Fence and Gate Co. and Baker Electric, all of Fort Dodge, are the subcontractors.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea An earthmover sits amid the mud where an artificial turf sports practice field is being built at Iowa Central Community College. Wet weather prevented crews from doing much work Thursday. The project is expected to be done in mid-August to mid-September depending on weather conditions.

The time frame for completion of the project is mid-August to mid-September. The project completion date is very dependent on weather conditions.

The field will be larger than a football field. Twait envisions offensive and defensive linemen having one end of the field just for their practices, while the running backs and other players use the rest of it.

The football team will not be the only Triton squad to use the facility. Twait said the mens and womens soccer teams will practice and play their home games there. The rugby team will also use the field. Additionally, the field will be used for intramural sports.

“It’s really going to benefit all our sports,” Twait said.