(La Porte, IN) - The group Preserve Historic La Porte, is renewing its call for the school corporation to accept its offer aimed at preserving Kiwanis Field.

 

The group is urging the school corporation to accept its offer to pay for both a study to determine the cost of renovating the stadium constructed in 1950, and the cost of applying to have Kiwanis Field placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

Mark Kurth, president of the preservation group, said a place on the national historic registry would make Kiwanis Field eligible for grants to help pay for the renovation and future maintenance.

 

Both sides have talked in recent months but, so far, the school corporation has not responded to the offer.

 

“The school board has been resistant to that offer.  We hope that they’ll reconsider,” he said.

 

Kurth said an online petition drive to preserve the stadium where athletic events like high school football games are played has generated more than 1,000 signatures.

 

The organization is worried the declining condition of Kiwanis Field, if left addressed, will make any renovation more costly and jeopardize its future.

 

“To date, no plans have been advanced to address the deferred maintenance or unspecified challenges at the stadium.  Left unattended, repairs will only get more costly.  Inaction is essentially demolition by neglect,” said Preserve Historic La Porte officials.