The Parks Department is looking for proposals for the "improvement, operation and maintenance of the West Seattle Stadium," a publicly owned facility at 4432 35th Ave. S.W., and the deadline is March 26.

According to city reports, the facility has operated for the past 70 years and has hosted countless high school football games, track and field meets, as well as other public events.

There are 2,700 seats in the stands and the facilities athletic amenities include a 400-meter track, a grass surface field dedicated for football, high jump, steeple chase, long jump, hammer throw, javelin, shot put, support facilities, such as restrooms and a concession building.

But its aging and has many structural and support systems that are nearing the end of life, which will require major upgrades and renovations. The 1936 north stands, bleachers, locker rooms, restrooms, fire sprinkler system and existing field are currently not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other building codes.

The Parks Department says it doesn't have funding to make the upgrades, which is why it is issuing a "Request for Proposal" to seek interested parties that will make improvements, operate, and maintain the stadium, including the track and field areas. However, the West Seattle Stadium will continue to be a publicly owned facility upon the completion of the improvements.

The selected "operator would be allowed to propose an operation and business plan that includes concession activities, event programming, and other activities that generate revenues to help defray their annual operating costs; rent and improvement offsets, and a term of the concession agreement that is commensurate to the level of capital investment and life of improvements."

With funding from the Pro Parks Levy, $1.7 million worth of improvements were made to the stadium in 2007. These included smoothing the track surface and installing a competitive new synthetic 400-meter track surface with 100-meter sprint run outs. Some field event structures were rebuilt or installed.

In 2007, the stadium brought in about $29,000 in revenues.

The "Request for Proposal" package has been available since Feb. at the Magnuson Park and Business Resources Office, located at 6310 N.E. 74th St., #109E, Seattle, 98115.

Completed proposals are due to the Magnuson Park & Business Resources Office by 4:30 p.m. on March 26.

For more information please contact Rita Hollomon at (206) 684-8008 or via email at rita.hollomon@seattle.gov.