With Lincoln’s ever growing student population, a new middle school in the Southeast side of town was required to relieve the over crowding at existing schools and account for the predicted future growth in the student population. The solution was to not only construct a new middle school but to also incorporate a new YMCA facility to serve that part of Lincoln. The collaborative effort ensures the 30,000 sf of shared facilities, including gyms and classrooms, get used in the most efficient manner. This partnership between Lincoln Public Schools and the YMCA has proven to be extremely beneficial to both parties since 2009 when they built their first joint-use facility located in Northwest Lincoln in the Fallbrook neighborhood.

Moore Middle School compromises about 186,700 sf of the 243,300 sf facility. When full, it will eventually be home to about 850 students in the three-story classroom wing. The seamlessly integrated YMCA boasts such features as both indoor and outdoor pools. The architect decided early on that precast concrete would be the best material to meet the different and demanding design requirements for both entities. Concrete Industries produced and supplied the project with over 1,450 individual pieces of precast concrete columns, beams, hollowcore, accent banding, solid and insulated wall panels. The exterior of the precast is a mixture of finishes including integral color, sandblasting, form liner and field laid brick veneer. Much of the interior of the precast was produced with a smooth finish that was painted in the field to provide an extremely durable wall finish.

The project also included 10,500 yards of concrete supplied by Ready Mixed Concrete as well as a large quantity of interior Burnished Block supplied by Reimers Kaufman.
The Architect and Engineer for the project was The Clark Enersen Partners and Hausmann Construction was the Contractor. The facility opened this past summer.

The Lincoln Saltdogs and the American Association jointly announced that Haymarket Park was named the league’s ‘Best Playing Field’ for 2017.  Haymarket Park has been the Field of the Year for all 17 seasons of its history.

The award is decided by the votes of the league’s field managers and media personnel.

Jeremy J. is in his first season as Athletic Turf Manager at Haymarket Park after serving as the Assistant Athletic Turf Manager for several seasons. Johnson graduated with a degree in Turfgrass Management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has served as an intern at Haymarket Park and with the Philadelphia Phillies.

“I am very pleased to continue the tradition of ‘Best Playing Field’ here at Haymarket Park,”Jeremy said. “This league features some great playing surfaces and terrific groundskeepers, and I am honored to receive this award.”

Haymarket Park has been the home of the Lincoln Saltdogs and Nebraska Cornhuskers since it opened in 2001. It is one of the anchors of the city’s Haymarket District.

“Jeremy and his staff do a wonderful job with the turf at Haymarket Park,” Saltdogs President/General Manager Charlie M. said. “This playing surface is one of the best in all of minor league baseball and it takes a team effort with the Stadium Operations staff to win this award for the 17th year in a row.”

Jeremy has a staff of comprised of full-time and intern workers.

“This award would not have been possible without the help and teamwork of the entire staff,” he said. “I would like to thank my assistant Jen R. Her assistance, and knowledge of this facility, was essential in managing two playing surfaces and the landscape to such a high standard. I would like to thank Marcus L., Mike M., and Blake T. for their hard work and ability to take on more responsibility; along with our entire grounds crew for their countless hours maintaining our standards. Finally, I would like to thank Josh K. and Charlie M. for ensuring that my transition into this position was as smooth as possible.”