An Earth Moving Experience At The Lacey Recreation Complex

Fifteen bulldozers helped to make a difference at the Lacey Complex on Friday.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The rumbling that was shaking Oskaloosa on Friday was definitely moving things along.

With fifteen bulldozers crawling their way across a field, it could have easily been one of the largest collective efforts by volunteers utilizing such equipment. “We should have called Guinness,” said MCRF board member Carl Drost, who was enjoying the sound of tracks clattering along the ground.

Carl Drost, who helped to spearhead the effort by making phone calls to recruit volunteers, said, “everyone I called said fine, I’ll be there.”

Those volunteers came from all around the area, from Pella to Hedrick.

“As long as Joe and I have been working on the Lacey project, a lot of people say, ‘now if there’s something I can ever do to help ya, let us know’,” Drost said of the communication he has received from others over the years.

With that in mind, an area just east of the new stadium was a prime candidate to have those volunteers converge upon. “You know, I wondered how many of those guys would haul their dozers down. Fifteen,” Drost said smiling. “It’s just phenomenal to me.”

The future plans for the area will be overflow parking and a play field. “Now Joe Crookham and Carl think we’re going to have a state tournament here some day. Don’t know what sport, but we’re going to have a state tournament, and we’ll need parking.” Drost added.

Those volunteers and their dozers moved an estimated 27,000 cubic yards of dirt. Not a bad day’s work.