The Valley City State University Foundation has announced a fundraising campaign to secure resources for a major renovation of the track and field facilities at Lokken Stadium on the university campus.According to Larry Robinson, executive director of the VCSU Foundation, "We are experiencing both surface and sub-surface issues with the track. Although short term repairs have been made in recent years, we intend to do a complete makeover during the summer of 2018."The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education has authorized the foundation to conduct the campaign to cover the costs of the renovation, estimated to exceed $1 million.Robinson reports that a private party has committed $800,000 to the project, with fundraising efforts to cover the remaining balance already underway.VCSU officials had participated in discussions with the Valley City Public School District regarding the possibility of sharing a community track but ultimately decided to pursue the on-campus project, said Robinson.The VCSU track and field program has experienced significant growth in recent years, with about 70 student-athletes currently participating in the Viking program, said Jill DeVries, VCSU athletic director."With the growth of the VCSU track and field program, we believe it is in the best interests of key stakeholders, including our student-athletes, to upgrade the track at Lokken Stadium on the VCSU campus," said DeVries. "Recruiting prospective student-athletes to Valley City is very competitive and challenging. Improving our facilities will help us build on the momentum and success that Coach Chris Johnson and his staff have achieved."The 400-meter track at Lokken Stadium will be rebuilt and resurfaced. Also included in the project are throwing cages for field events, runways and pits for the jump events, and a steeplechase barrier and pit. The VCSU Foundation is currently soliciting bids for the architectural and engineering work associated with the project; a construction bid letting will follow.For more information about the track renovation project, contact the VCSU Foundation Office at 701-845-7203.