Renovations are underway at John D. Sulsberger Memorial Stadium and organizers are hoping to have the project complete by August 1st.

The entire field has been excavated, the old lights were taken down and the track surface has been removed, during the beginning stages of the $1.3 million privately funded project.

"We want to make sure that we can demonstrate that Zanesville's committed to extra-curricular activities, to the student population, even at this point there's a payroll deduction program that the Zanesville faculty is doing, so it's really coming together well," said Mark Watson, renovation fund committee.

Watson said the project will be good for not only the schools, but community development as a whole.

"When people are coming into the Zanesville area one of the first things they want to see are the schools and so with the new schools in the Zanesville City Schools that's something that's very, very good, but the athletic facilities lend some more credibility to the whole school system in the community," he said.

If you would like to donate to the Sulsberger Stadium Renovation Fund contributions can be mailed to the Muskingum County Community Foundation at 534 Putnam Avenue, Zanesville, Ohio 43701. Make checks payable to the Sulsberger Stadium Renovation Fund Muskingum County Community Foundation.