Folks in Los Angeles may think that Dodger Stadium is in their town. And yes, there is a structure out there with that name.

But obviously, the real Dodger Stadium is right here in Fort Dodge. It has stood for 86 years, and after a just-completed $4.9 million update, it is ready to be the center of sports action and graduation ceremonies for years to come.

Josh Porter, superintendent of the Fort Dodge Community School District, had it right when he told The Messenger, “Dodger Stadium is a cornerstone of this town.”

It has been a cornerstone since it opened on Oct. 4, 1940.

The recent project was its first major renovation.

It created a new concessions area, new locker rooms for athletes and officials, new restrooms, new athletic training facilities, a pavilion area, fiber lines, upgraded and additional lighting, enhanced security systems and a bigger scoreboard.

All of that was created, built or installed by a team of contractors that with one exception are all in Fort Dodge. Kolacia Construction was the general contractor. Local subcontractors were Baker Electric, Flooring America, Fort Dodge Asphalt, Hawkeye Masonry, MidState Plumbing and Heating, Midwest Fence and Gate, Rasch Construction, Stone Creek Landscaping, Cemstone Concrete, Custom Builders Cabinet Shop and Central States Roofing. A drywall company from Denison was the only out-of-town subcontractor.

We thank the district’s Board of Education and administration for taking on this project. There is always a temptation to tear down or otherwise junk something old and replace it with something new. The district’s leadership never considered such a move with the stadium, opting instead to substantially invest in an iconic landmark.

We also thank the various contractors and their employees for their skill and hard work on the stadium project. When someone is renovating an old house, they usually run into unexpected challenges. Renovating a large old stadium surely entailed similar challenges. The workers overcame whatever challenges they encountered and gave the community a beautiful facility.

We hope that people will treasure the renovated Dodger Stadium for years to come.