Work at Holland High School includes temporary perimeter control, utility access, and permanent sports-field fencing within the district’s $16 million athletic-complex project.
BYRON CENTER, MI — Executive Fence & Gate reported that its phase-one fencing scope for Holland High School’s baseball and softball fields was approximately 90% complete as of Sept. 30, 2026. That percentage applies only to the contractor’s phase-one fencing work, which is one component of Holland Public Schools’ overall $16 million athletic-complex project.
Crews are coordinating temporary and permanent installations with GDK Construction Company and other trades. The district broke ground June 1 on work that includes new and renovated baseball, softball, and football facilities. Holland Public Schools has said the complex is expected to be ready for the 2027–2028 school year, with Holland High School’s first on-campus home football game planned for fall 2027.
Temporary perimeter fencing went up in June after school was dismissed, followed by permanent post installation in July. Before demolition began, the fencing crew established temporary site boundaries and controlled construction access. Those temporary sections must remain adaptable as excavation, underground utilities, and other work move through the complex.
The permanent first-phase scope covers the baseball and softball fields. It includes 8-foot black vinyl-coated chain-link fencing, 30-foot backstop netting systems, and logo padding along the lower three feet of the backstops. Stephens Pipe & Steel supplied fencing materials for the project.
“On a project of this size, installation is only one part of the work,” said Tyler Johnson, managing partner at Executive Fence & Gate. “Hitting deadlines, working with the other contractors, and keeping communication open are what keep the job moving. If crews do not know when others are arriving or what has changed, the schedule can turn quickly.”
The project schedule is refined through regular progress meetings and direct coordination with GDK, which is supervising the stadium work. Fence installation follows excavation and grading, while concrete crews work behind the fence crews to install maintenance strips around the new turf fields. Openings also have to remain available where equipment and other subcontractors still need access.
Utility work adds another timing requirement. The schedule calls for the existing perimeter fence to be opened at three points so crews can bring new water and sewer lines into the complex, then closed again after the work is finished. Johnson said those openings can come with only one or two days’ notice once road-closure permits and utility crews are ready.
That sequencing shows why construction fencing contractors are often scheduled alongside earthwork, utilities and concrete trades rather than treated as a single isolated installation. The Holland High School work provides a current field example of the contractor’s commercial fencing expansion, detailed in an earlier company announcement.
The 30-foot backstop netting is a newer element for many school athletic projects. Unlike a traditional chain-link backstop, the netting can be removed during winter and does not remain bent after repeated ball impacts. Johnson said the system requires crews to learn installation methods that improve efficiency while preserving proper tension and alignment.
“More schools are moving to net systems instead of chain-link backstops,” Johnson said. “They can be taken down during the winter, and they do not deform every time a ball hits them. That helps the backstop maintain its appearance longer.”
Johnson also reported on Sept. 30 that the baseball and softball fencing work was running ahead of its original construction sequence. Depending on the construction manager’s schedule, the fencing crew may be able to begin portions of the football-field scope before the work originally planned for spring.
Executive Fence & Gate is a Byron Center, Michigan-based fence and gate contractor founded in January 2026 by Managing Partners Tyler Johnson, Mike Hoffman, and Mike Eaton. The company provides residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and temporary fencing services, including custom gates, perimeter fencing, security enclosures, and access-control solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sports field fencing is being installed at Holland High School?
Executive Fence & Gate’s phase-one scope includes 8-foot black vinyl-coated chain-link fencing around the baseball and softball fields, 30-foot backstop netting systems, and logo padding along the lower three feet of the backstops. Temporary perimeter sections are also being used to control construction access while work continues across the athletic complex.
What does the reported 90% completion figure mean?
The 90% figure applies only to Executive Fence & Gate’s phase-one fencing scope for the baseball and softball fields as of Sept. 30, 2026. It does not mean Holland Public Schools’ entire $16 million athletic-complex project was 90% complete. Additional fencing and broader construction work remain subject to the project schedule.
How is fence installation coordinated with other construction work?
Fence installation is sequenced around excavation, grading, concrete work, underground utilities, and equipment access. Executive Fence & Gate participates in progress meetings and coordinates directly with GDK Construction Company and other trades. Some perimeter openings may need to be created and closed again on short notice as utility crews and road-closure permits become ready.
Why is temporary perimeter fencing needed during the project?
Temporary perimeter fencing establishes site boundaries, controls construction access, and separates active work areas from surrounding school property. At Holland High School, sections must remain adaptable as excavation, utility installation, and equipment movement progress. This allows designated access points to change without treating the temporary layout as a fixed, permanent installation.
How does backstop netting differ from a chain-link backstop?
The 30-foot netting systems can be removed during winter and do not remain bent after repeated ball impacts, according to Managing Partner Tyler Johnson. Installing the systems requires attention to proper tension and alignment. The netting is being incorporated with chain-link fencing and logo padding around the new baseball and softball fields.
When is the Holland High School athletic complex expected to open?
Holland Public Schools has said the overall athletic complex is expected to be ready for the 2027–2028 school year, with the school’s first on-campus home football game planned for fall 2027. As of Sept. 30, 2026, the baseball and softball fencing work was reportedly running ahead of its original construction sequence.