Charlo looks to improve football field

In small rural communities all across the state of Montana, it is anything but unusual for several generations of a family to attend the same high school. But after watching their grandchildren play on the same field that they competed on centuries earlier, the members of the Charlo Community Complex committee decided to do something about the condition of Charlo High School’s outdoor sports facilities. “There’s been no improvement in 45 years,” said Committee Facilitator, Harley Coleman.

The committee is a nonprofit organization comprised of Charlo alumni, teachers, and community members who all want to see positive change take place in both the school, and the town as a whole. “Charlo has a really great thing going,” said Coleman, “and we want to keep supporting that.”

The Charlo Community Complex committee has four main project goals: Recrown the football field and lay new sod, install an underground sprinkler system in all outdoor facilities, update the outdoor lighting around the football field and track, and install an eight-lane rubberized track in addition to rubberizing the runways of four field events.

When the project is completed, the effects are intended to extend far beyond the high school students who compete there. “We want it to be a safe place for community members to come walk or run,” said Coleman.

Charlo Superintendent Steve Love knows how important a project like this could be for the Charlo community, and gives his full support to the committee. “The community is built around the school,” he said. Love is also hopeful that the new and improved facilities will inspire a higher standard in academics, behavior, and sports for the students of Charlo Schools.

The project, which is currently in the planning and fundraising stage, is slated to be completed in three to four years. Cost estimates for the entire project fall between $600,000 and $650,000.

Project funds are being raised through alumni and business donations, as well as private and state grants.

So far, 82 contributors to the Charlo Community Complex have raised $50,000.