Although the heavy rains of recent weeks slowed construction on the Dewey Field renovation project — including keeping 18th Street closed through at least Monday, July 2 — several high-profile elements will soon be put in their places, drawing attention to the public school improvements.[wpedon id=”85410″ align=”left”]
A gigantic image of the Perry Bluejay, sculpted by Des Moines artist John Brommel, is nearly complete and will soon be ready to be raised on a concrete pad and pedestal near the east entrance to the field.
Once construction of the concession stand, ticket booths and restrooms nears completion, Perry’s Go Big, Go Blue booster bird will be lowered by crane onto the pedestal, from which the Bluejay will be master of all he or she surveys.[wpedon id=”85410″ align=”left”]
The intricately worked body of the Brommel’s Perry Bluejay shows the meticulous attention to detail devoted by the artist to the welding of each individual feather of the Perry mascot.
With the installation of the new handicap-accessible bleachers on the north side of Dewey Field now complete, the pressbox will be installed in the coming days. Workers with Barnhart Crane and Rigging of Grimes removed the pressbox from its semi-tractor trailer Friday morning and will place it atop the bleachers once the ground drys out a little more.
All phase-one work is expected to be completed in time for Perry’s first home football game of the 2018 season, scheduled for Friday, Aug. 24, when the Bluejays will entertain Greene County in the 87th playing of the Cowbell Game.
Perry Community School District Superintendent Clark Wicks said the Dewey Field fundraising campaign has reached the $215,000 mark. A marketing campaign aimed at local and out-of-town PHS alumni will roll out soon, he said.[wpedon id=”85410″ align=”left”]
Wicks said contributions to the Dewey Field Project can be mailed to the Perry Community School District, P.O. Box 69, Perry, IA 50220-0069.
The city of Perry announced Wednesday that 18th Street between McKinley and Lucinda streets will remain closed until about Friday, June 22.
The 18th Street sewer work by the Lang Construction Group LLC of West Des Moines is expected to be completed by July 2. Local motorists should continue to access the Perry High School parking lot through the McKinley Street entrance during construction.
For more information on the 18th Street roadwork, contact the Perry City Hall at 515-465-2481.
