Teeters Field project, a labor of love for many

KELLOGG — Sometimes projects come together in a way that can’t be explained, and the new concession stand at Teeters Field is a testament to that.

Teeters Field has seen its fair share of upgrades over the years, but the city of Kellogg is putting the finishing touches on the biggest series of modifications to date. That includes a brand new 750-square-foot concession stand and restroom facility, a ticket booth and an ADA-compliant viewing platform.

It was more than three years ago that the Kellogg City Council began seeking bids to replace the aging concession stand at the iconic football field. When those bids came in higher than what was expected and affordable for the city, the project was moved to the back burner.

Teeters Field has a history unto itself. After the bleachers that occupied the southwest corner of the field were burned down and rebuilt on the field’s south hill, a small concrete outbuilding was constructed about 10 feet from the end line of the football’s west end zone.

For the next 70 years that building would house the concession stand and bathroom facilities for Teeters Field, until the old facility had nothing more to give.

“It was on its last legs,” Kellogg Public Works director Mike Fitzgerald said.

Weather, vermin and aging infrastructure all plagued the old building, and it had become a safety concern for the Kellogg School District.

The Idaho High School Activities Association, the governing body for all public high school athletics in the state, informed the school district and city a few years ago that the current building was too close to the back end of the western end zone of the football field and could pose a safety threat to a player.

School officials were also reportedly told that due to this concern, they were not going to be allowed to host any state playoff football games until it was rectified.

While this new mandate from the IHSAA presented a new level of urgency for the project to be completed, the city had been working toward a new concession stand for quite some time.

A big part of those efforts was attributed to the work of Craig Lewis.

Lewis was Kellogg’s previous public works director when he suddenly and unexpectedly passed away in January 2022.

During his time with the city, Lewis was instrumental in several large projects, including a full replacement and upgrade of the city’s sewer system and city streets.

The foundation work was completed by the beginning of summer 2022, but then the project hit a series of snags that stalled any further construction.

These unforeseen factors led to some irritation from the community at large. The other concern was how the city was spending the funds it had received for the new building.

Through a series of donations, fundraisers and other funding means, $160,000 was secured for the project, which still wasn’t enough to cover all the associated costs.

In the meantime, several local business owners began volunteering their services, providing materials and some labor to the project.

Once the momentum began to build around the project, others wanted an opportunity to be involved.

“A large portion of the work was completed by Public Works staff and Kellogg School District staff,” Fitzgerald said. “Without their efforts, this would’ve never gotten done. And this isn’t their regular duty either. And the work that was being completed by the contractors and professionals was being done at a discounted rate.”

According to Fitzgerald, more than $1 million worth of upgrades have been made at Teeters Field over the past 18 months, but with so many generous donations — be it time, materials or labor — only an estimated $250,000 has been spent.

There is still much to be done for the project to be finished. This includes installing appliances within the concession stand, putting some trim around the edges and getting the ticket booth built. However, during the upcoming all-class reunion, the restroom facilities will be available for use whenever Teeters Field is in use.

The building's exterior is a bit stale by Fitzgerald’s standards, which is something he hopes an adventurous student or citizen can help rectify.

“We left a lot of space for someone to come in and decorate the outside of the building,” Fitzgerald said. “There’s a lot of room for future artistic efforts.”

Even in his absence, Lewis’s fingerprints remain a large part of the project.

Lewis graduated in 1978 from Kellogg High School, where he was a standout football player for the Wildcats.

Now, when folks enter Teeters Field from the southwest entrance they will be greeted by a large placard outside the concession stand that memorializes Lewis, or “Big Lewi” as he was known to many, in a place that he loved as a player, a coach and as a Kellogg alumni.

“Our goal is to announce the dedication of the project to Lewis during the Kellogg High School All-Class Reunion,” Fitzgerald said. “Teeters Field was his baby. He really worked hard to make sure that it was in as good condition as possible. We’re proud to be dedicating this project to a man who cared so deeply about this community.”