Danville Stadium is set to receive a renovation to its exterior before its 75th anniversary celebration takes place this summer.
City council members on Tuesday night approved a $295,000 project with McDowell Builders of Sidell to replace the exterior siding and paint along the entirety of the structure that will last for several more decades.
Alderman Mike Puhr says the renovation project has been planned for a couple of years. Public Works Director Carl Carpenter says money for the project was initially set aside for next year but was moved ahead for this year.
Carpenter says the stadium’s exterior will consist of cement-fiberboard paneling with plywood behind it. He says the stadium will continue to maintain the forest-green color it has always had. The new material should last another 35 years.
Danville Stadium opened in 1946 and was the home of a number of minor-league franchises through the early 1980’s, and has hosted the Danville Dans since 1989. It also serves as the home field for Danville Area Community College and Danville High School.
As part of the anniversary celebration, two events are planned for this summer. The first is a Jackie Robinson Night in June, commemorating the slugger’s appearance at the stadium in 1947, as well as the anniversary celebration in July. The Dans are competing this season after its 2020 slate was canceled due to the pandemic.
The renovations are set to take 12 weeks to complete.
