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NEW MANCHESTER -- Hancock County Schools officials are working on their options after the archway leading into the Suzan L. Smith Fields of Dreams baseball and softball complex on the Oak Glen campus was destroyed earlier this week.
The complex currently is under an improvement project, including new turf surfaces on both baseball and softball fields and new lighting, with Forever Lawn in Canton, Ohio, serving as the main contractor.
According to Superintendent Dan Enich, a crew from one of the subcontractors was on site delivering aggregate, dumping the material from the truck's end gate before departing.
"For whatever reason, he left it up the whole way. It hooked the arch and brought it down," Enich said.
Enich noted there were no injuries to the driver of the truck or any students or school personnel, although there was damage to the vehicle. Following the incident, officials with Oak Glen Middle sent an alert asking parents to delay their arrival for picking up students in an effort to clear the area.
Officials have been assured the replacement of the arch will be done as an addition to the field project.
"They've all said it's all covered," Enich said.
While the arch was taken down, and many of the bricks destroyed, Enich said they were able to salvage all of the commemorative plaques which had been included in the original arch with plans to incorporate them in the new design.
Enich said he anticipates reaching out to the Oak Glen Alumni Association for input in the design, as well.
"We want to get their input on whatever goes up in its place," he said.
The Fields of Dreams first opened in 2008, and was named in honor of Smith, a former Oak Glen High principal and county schools superintendent, in April.