Construction is plentiful for MSU athletic facilities as the university has begun renovating a new outdoor track and is already revamping Jenison Field House.

Both venues received approval by the MSU Board of Trustees last year.

In December, the board approved the first phase of a $2.8 million renovation to Ralph Young Field, MSU’s outdoor track facility.

Demolition of the old track should be finished by the end of the month, assistant athletics director John Lewandowski said.

Greg Ianni, associate athletics director, and Clarence Underwood, athletics director, are overseeing the project for the university.

“Shortly after that Greg and Clarence will make a bid for the next phase,” Lewandowski said.

When they propose the next bid, a photo or model of what the track will look like must be submitted to the board.

The decision to construct the track is directly related to the decision to replace the artificial turf in Spartan Stadium with natural grass.

The stadium renovation, which began in December, is scheduled for an Aug. 1 completion.

Eliminating the turf means the women’s field hockey team would no longer have a place to play home games.

To correct the problem, the new track will feature an artificial surface inside the track for field competitions, the marching band and field hockey games.

Women’s field hockey coach Michele Madison said she’ll miss playing on the field where Spartan football competed, but she said playing in a more open arena will give the team more exposure.

“I think the atmosphere will be better for spectators,” Madison said.

Madison said the field will be watered, allowing for more diving and sliding.

Madison said she looks forward to the new field, but said walking through the tunnel at Spartan Stadium will be missed.

Plans for the facility include a scoreboard, press box, field lighting and bleacher seating.

However, the track will be moved south to maximize available space.

The field is expected to be completed by Aug. 1, with the track being completed later that month.

As for Jenison Field House, the board accepted an $8.2 million proposal in June for the renovations.

The project falls in line with Title IX, an issue that makes men’s and women’s teams and facilities equal.

Renovations include building new locker rooms, a new weight and equipment room and a training room.

An elevator also will be installed to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

About 50 percent of the planned renovations already have been completed, Lewandowski said.

Jenison is slated to be finished by Aug. 1.

Women’s gymnastic coach Kathie Klages said having the building fixed is something that will benefit teams that compete in Jenison.

Currently, the wrestling, volleyball, women’s and men’s gymnastics and men’s and women’s indoor track teams use Jenison for competition.

Klages said she is pleased to see the university making efforts toward helping out the nonrevenue programs.

“Since 1992, my athletes have been using a bathroom for a locker room,” she said.