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Galesburg, Galesburg High School, Galesburg Silver Streaks, High School Baseball, IHSA, Jim Sundberg, Silver Streaks, Softball, Sports, Streaks, Streaks of Galesburg
By Matthew Wheaton, Wheat on the Prairie
GALESBURG — On Monday night, Galesburg District 205’s school board members approved having Legat Architects work on architectural drawings for a major construction project that is still in the preliminary stage.
And a property tax increase will not occur if it’s completed, as District 205 will use its revenues and Fund 60 money that is available. A $5 million short-term loan might be taken out, which would be repaid via 1% sales tax revenue funds over the course of up to five years.
According to 205, Fund 60 “is restricted to the use of expenditures for construction, repairs, and maintenance of district facilities. Salaries, benefits, and non-facility maintenance related items cannot be paid from this fund.”
In the plans is a new 25,000 square feet district warehouse on the Galesburg Junior/Senior High School campus, turf at Jim Sundberg Field, the home of the Silver Streaks’ varsity baseball team, the elimination of the freshman/sophomore baseball field, and infield work at Galesburg’s varsity softball field.
Gale and Rose Hoben Welch need a combined $5 million in life safety improvements, and the schools will be demolished if the project eventually gets approval.
Gale’s lot will be left as a green space while the district warehouse would be constructed in Rose Hoben’s footprint.
The warehouse will provide a space for new food coolers, have a permanent dock and be located on property where 50% of the student population resides, District 205 officials have stated.
Diamond improvements
A new drainage system, fencing, and turf would be installed at Sundberg, and “allows for a safe field that is playable in multiple weather conditions and little maintenance required,” District 205 documents state.
A 144 space parking lot would replace the freshman/sophomore baseball field, and “provides much needed parking for the softball, baseball, stadium events, the field house (and) improves traffic safety on the north end of the property,” district documents state.
“It also allows for the current softball/baseball parking lot to be converted to ADA parking.”
The JV softball field will have revisions made to its fence “to allow for use by baseball and softball for practice areas.”
Sundberg Field will be used for games by all of Galesburg’s baseball squads if turf is installed.
Work will also be done on the varsity softball field’s infield, as it is currently clay and doesn’t allow for sufficient water drainage.
An artificial playing surface for Galesburg’s softballers is among future considerations and wasn’t included in the current proposal.
What’s going to happen at Wicall?
The architectural drawing for an addition at Wicall Gym/Mustain Pool, which was presented during Monday’s board meeting, shows a multi-use building connected to the existing structure.
- 8,600 sq. ft. wrestling practice facilty
- 7.250 sq. ft. softball/baseball practice facility
- 3,200 sq. ft. weight room with 16 power racks and an outdoor expansion area
- Public bathrooms and concession area for Wicall Gym and Mustain Pool
Ex-Streak Demott takes over girls hoops program
Lexi (Daniels) Demott has been named the next head coach of Galesburg’s varsity girls basketball team.
The 2016 GHS grad replaces Evan Massey, who retired after the 2023-24 season, and she spent four seasons serving as an assistant under him.
A four-year player for Galesburg, Demott appeared in 132 games in her high school career, and she netted 906 points (No. 22 on the all-time scoring list).
Demott averaged 11.3 points per game and went 109-for-249 (43%) from 3-point territory in 2015-16, her senior season, and she made 256 3-pointers in her high school career.
Massey guided the Streaks for 46 seasons, and the hardwood inside John Thiel Gym will now be known as Evan Massey Court – that proposal was approved Monday night along with the hiring of his replacement.
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