After 47 years in Shingleton Gymnasium, Shenandoah University is finally ready to make an upgrade.
On April 20, Shenandoah University’s board of trustees approved plans for a new, 77,000-square-foot indoor facility that will primarily be used by the university’s 21 athletic teams and 480 student-athletes. The facility can also be used for university and community events.
Provided it receives an additional $2 million through fundraising, SU hopes to break ground this fall on the $24.5 million facility, which at a height of 60 feet will be clearly visible from Interstate 81. The university hopes to have the facility ready by the time the basketball season starts in November 2017.
“It’s not just an athletic facility,” said SU President Tracy Fitzsimmons from her office on Tuesday. “It’s going to serve everyone.”
The main feature of the facility — which will be located next to Shentel Stadium in the grass area currently used for stadium parking — is the 63,000-square-foot multipurpose fieldhouse. [The Winchester Star]
The Northport City Council has taken the next step in the Northport Shore Development.
The council is entering a $3.7 million agreement with Sports Contractors Unlimited for the athletic fields portion of the sports complex.
Council President Christy Bobo said the fields are a huge part of the development.
“It’s an entire sports complex, it’s not just baseball fields,” she said. “We’re going to have softball, pickleball, everything for everybody to come do, walking trails, lots of activity will be going on there.”
The council has also started to work with a developer on the project. [WVUA]
There will be more space to play in Dunlap, Ill., soon, after the school board approved a new sports facility to be built near the middle and high schools with an estimated $8.5 million price tag.
Dunlap Unit District #323 Superintendent Scott Dearman laid out the proposal in June. Dearman assured board members that the district has more than enough money to pay for it out of current reserves, which hold $38 million.
He said the goal is to allow students to practice without being on top of each other or in unfit environments.
For example, cheerleading teams practice in local elementary schools, dance teams practice in the hallway, and the marching band can only practice when the football field isn’t being used.
The 42,500-square-foot facility will be built within walking distance of the high school on the corner of Legion Hall Road and Cedar Hills Drive. It will include three basketball courts, a 160-meter indoor track with pole vault and long jump, a dance room, an indoor golf simulator, and a small training room. [25 News]
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