Matt Clement

BUTLER TWP — Plans to construct an athletic dome on-site at Butler High School have taken another step forward.

The dome — an inflatable facility — would be owned by Butler graduate and current Golden Tornado boys basketball coach Matt Clement, a former major league pitcher. Darryl Patten is a partner in the project.

“We just had a meeting with the athletic committee (Monday) and progress was made to the point that everyone thinks it's a great idea,” Clement said. “Now it's a matter of working out the logistics of everything.

“We've agreed that the land where the (high school) softball field is now would be the best location for the dome. Part of the process moving forward would be getting another field for the softball team.”

The approximate $2 million for the turfed facility would come from private funding and public grants. That cost could fluctuate depending on the dome's contents.

“If they want to put basketball in there, for example, that would change things,” Patten said.

“The school district's ability to participate in the operation, such as potential janitorial and maintenance work, has yet to be determined or even factored in,” Patten said.

To read more on this story, pick up Sunday's edition of the paper or subscribe to ButlerEagle.com.