Frontier Fields hits it out of the park and officially opens for student athletes

IDAHO FALLS — Frontier Fields, nan caller “Home of nan Tigers,” was officially unveiled to nan nationalist successful a expansive opening ceremonial connected Monday evening.

More than a 100 students, athletes, parents, coaches, teachers and schoolhouse administrators gathered astatine nan analyzable for games, activities, nutrient and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The IFHS shot squad pitcher Logan Whiting, a senior, has invested awesome sweat equity pinch his teammates, coaches and different volunteers to toggle shape nan section into a reality.

“My squad and I were retired present a ton. I laid astir of nan obstruction statement pinch a mates different guys,” he said. “We each laid nan sod.”

For decades, shot and shot teams person practiced and drilled successful nan retaining pond adjacent to nan precocious school.

“It’s conscionable bully that aft each nan activity that we put into this, we person a spot that we tin play connected now and believe on, versus nan drainage pit and nan gym,” Whiting said. “It’s a bully change.”

IFHS first baseman Cooper Cammack tests retired nan caller shot gem astatine Frontier Fields. | David Pace, EastIdahoNews.com

Local businesses donated galore of nan materials required to make nan analyzable a reality, and nan Booster Club raised astir $750,000 successful rate and in-kind donations.

Currently, nan analyzable includes a regularisation shot section and a completed shot gem pinch turf.

“We’ll person a home-field advantage,” Whiting said. “Instead of being astatine Tautphaus Park, we’re connected our location field. The turf is ace nice. It plays existent each time, and it lasts a batch longer than nan ungraded that’s gonna get muddy. We tin play beautiful overmuch successful immoderate condition.”

In May, Frontier Credit Union signed a $3 million, 40-year naming authorities statement pinch nan territory to thief supply nan backing needed to further create nan sporting facility. The collaboration represents nan largest private-public business successful territory history.

“When we first saw this project, … we came retired to this section and we saw what had already been built,” Frontier Credit Union and President Dan Thurman said, highlighting nan shot players who served to build nan field. “We heard nan stories astir nan students laying sod, building obstruction and digging trenches and putting successful blood, sweat and tears. …We’re truthful grateful for each nan activity that you’ve put in, and we’re conscionable excited to spot this task travel to completion.”

The diversion analyzable has been 5 years successful nan making.

On Monday, nan territory recognized Lisa Burtenshaw, Heather Thompson, Steve Hunter, Brandon Lee and Trent Johnson, who were instrumental successful realizing nan imagination for a caller sporting facility.

The territory was first approached by parents pinch plans for a analyzable successful October 2020, and nan committee of trustees approved $2 cardinal for “permitting, engineering nan tract plan, excavation, irrigation, parking tons and roadworthy improvements connected 49th South,” EastIdahoNews.com reported previously.

Hunter, nan IFHS Football Booster President, first approached Frontier Credit Union successful September 2023 to inquire for a $10,000 donation. However, nan in installments union’s activity was truthful impressed by students’ engagement and nan erstwhile donations from nan community, that they decided to importantly up their contribution.

When it is completed, it will characteristic 2 shot fields, 2 shot believe fields, 2 shot fields, 2 softball fields and 8 tennis courts.

“It will create a premier sports installation for schools passim nan region and really nan state,” LaOrange said. “There will beryllium teams coming present for authorities tournaments. To spot each of that travel together conscionable is really invigorating and a reminder of what an unthinkable organization Idaho Falls is and really excited we are for Idaho Falls High School.”

The Idaho Falls High School cheerleaders and mascot observe astatine Frontier Fields Monday.

IFHS softball and shot teams person already practiced and held games astatine Frontier Fields. The shot squad will subordinate them successful autumn 2025. Football believe fields should besides beryllium ready, providing sports accommodation for some Grid Kid and precocious schoolhouse athletes.

“You’ll commencement seeing scoreboards and (additional) fields. Eventually, there’ll beryllium a bath installation and a spot to waste concessions,” Idaho Falls School District 91 Superintendent Karla LaOrange said. “Down nan road, nan dream is that there’ll beryllium a student halfway wherever they tin do homework and person immoderate spot to change. Hopefully, there’ll beryllium a schoolhouse eventually.”

The territory is presently evaluating really it utilizes its facilities, a 12- to 18-month task that will see input from members of nan community.

“This is benignant of ‘you build it, and they will come,’” LaOrange siad. “I dream group spot nan anticipation of what we are trying to do. We are trying to springiness our students a safe spot and a really inviting spot for them to travel — 1 that really meets nan needs of 21st Century teaching.”

In nan meantime, nan students and Tiger fans astatine Monday’s ribbon cutting are eager to return athletics to nan adjacent level astatine Frontier Fields.

“Kids request sports. They bring retired nan champion successful kids. They support kids engaged, They support kids graduating,” booster mom Heather Thompson said. “It’s going to bless a batch of lives, and nan Tigers are going to person a spot to telephone home.”