Work is again in progress on the new Lawrence High School fields after last week’s heavy rains. The softball diamond backstop framing and light poles are in place while in the background the tennis courts are removed to make way for parking lots. Construction is also continuing on fields at Free State High School.

The rain last week turned to a summer heat wave, but that hasn’t deterred work on the new high school athletic fields.

“Not everybody’s working seven days a week, but some of the contractors are,” said Tom Bracciano, division director of operations and facility planning for the Lawrence School District. “The heat’s not real pleasant, but it’s dry and they’re making progress.”

At Lawrence High and the virtual school site, work is being done in all aspects of the upgrade. Lights have been installed at the football and softball fields and in the current LHS parking lot.

The Lawrence Tennis Center is gone and will become a parking lot and the new tennis courts are being excavated near the soccer fields.

Storm sewer work also continues and the drainage is being installed at the baseball field.

Work is also moving along at Free State High.

“It’s been so hot, so it really dried off pretty quick,” said Bracciano. “Everything is really starting to come together.”

The fields should be completed by Aug. 15 and should be ready for the start of the new school year, he said.