The first big drop in what is hoped to be a steady stream of funds to upgrade Marion sports facilities came Friday night in the form of a giant $10,000 check from the Marion Athletics Booster Club.

“This is just the seed money to get the project moving,” said Greg Van Gorp, a longtime advocate for the Marion Independent School District and vice-president of its charitable fund-raising foundation. “Now we’re going to be asking other alums and supporters to get behind what will be a pretty costly venture.”

A committee last year came up with plans to make major improvements to both the Indians’ football field at Thomas Park and at the Les Hipple Athletic Complex at the high school.  Preliminary estimates put the cost at $10.5 million, with nearly half of that going to new stands, lights, concession area, rest rooms, an irrigation system and added parking at the 75-year-old football stadium.

A poll showed overwhelming support for renovating the iconic Thomas Park field rather than building a brand new facility, Van Gorp noted.

Also proposed are improvements to the baseball diamond, re-location of the adjacent softball diamond, new tennis courts and upgrades to the soccer field.

While the Marion school board has approved the long-range concept, no funds have been allocated.

“The booster club wanted to do something to get the project off the ground,” said organization President Mike Cannoy, who announced the donation at Friday night’s annual Marion Bowl football scrimmage. “We think this is a good start. Now, anyone who wants to donate through the foundation will know that 100 percent of the money will go for the upgrades.”

Cannoy said he’s optimistic that a fund drive will be supported, given that district residents voters two years ago passed a bond issue for the new Vernon Middle School with an  85 percent approval vote.

“There’s a lot of pride in the Marion school district,” he pointed out.

Marion Athletics Director Corby Laube said no timetable has been set for the improvements and that they could be done in phases depending on success of the fund-raising efforts.

“What we’ll be doing next is getting up a group to set some priorities and make plans," he said. "But I think this first big donation by the booster clubs shows that people will get behind the project.

“It really gives us something to build on.”