With a full slate of financial, political and bureaucratic hurdles behind them, backers of the Enumclaw football field renovation project are ready to celebrate.

Members of the YEAS Committee are inviting the community to the Pete’s Pool facility June 29 for a final gathering before the transformation begins.

A traditional groundbreaking ceremony is planned for 6 p.m. at the stadium. Work will not begin until July 1 and it’s anticipated work will be finished in time for Enumclaw High’s first home game Sept. 2.

The driving force behind turning the quaint Pete’s Pool facility into a modern stadium has been the steadfast focus of Your Enumclaw Area Stadium, or YEAS. The all-volunteer group was represented by Jeff Coats June 13 as members of the Enumclaw City Council adopted the final three resolutions  that will turn all the planning and fundraising into reality.

The first resolution finalized funding issues and assured that the difference between grant funding and the actual cost of installing a synthetic turf field – about $51,000 – would be paid by YEAS.

The second issue was a formal construction agreement between the city and local contractor Carl Sanders, who has donated his time and his company’s expertise since the YEAS effort took shape.

Coats praised Sanders’ willingness to help, noting it represented “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in the form of an in-kind donation.

The final item approved by the City Council was an agreement with AstroTurf Inc. for installation of the artificial turf surface.

The company’s bid was $445,000, or $51,000 more than has been received in grants. Coats assured the council the YEAS committee would pay the difference.

The new turf constitutes Phase I of a larger plan for the complex. Eventually, YEAS would like to see additional seating and improvements.