Reconstructing Athletic Facilities A look at capital improvement projects taking place around the nation
The most diffi cult task an athletic director can undertake is capital improvements. They are responsible for secur- ing revenue, garnering public support and overseeing massive construction projects on top of their everyday duties of managing the sports department. Despite those obstacles, athletic directors each year
lead multimillion-dollar renovations of football stadi- ums, baseball fi elds and fi eldhouses. It’s often an intimi- dating assignment, but with the help of school offi cials and construction managers, it’s a valuable learning expe- rience that provides a new perspective on the importance of athletic facilities.
Several people interviewed during Coach And Athletic
Director’s annual renovations issue discussed the impor- tance of transparency, communication and intense plan- ning to successfully navigate their way through compli- cated capital projects. The biggest factor is making sure everyone is on the same page and working toward the same goals. Whether it’s the school board or local cham- ber of commerce, athletic directors must unite a school and community to get the best results. The following pages include summaries of capital improvements taking place around the nation as well as insight into how the projects were completed.
George Rogers Clark Middle/High School, Hammond, Ind. By Joe Delgado, George Rogers Clark High School, Hammond, Ind.
to be done to rekindle school spirit and to honor past and present athletes. We are in the fi rst phase of renovations to improve our
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playing facilities. At our football fi eld, we took down an old fence and replaced it with trees. These trees separate the track/fi eld from the walkway fans use to get to our concession stand. It really dresses up the fi eld. Outside of our gymnasium, we painted the walls royal
blue with a white stripe down the middle (our school col- ors are royal blue and white). This slight change makes this area of the school really stand out. We also includ- ed a wall mural highlighting past and present athletes, coaches and fans. We put up a “Once a Pioneer, Always a Pioneer” slogan above the doors entering the gym. Around this slogan, we have “bricks” that alumni, teach- ers, coaches, etc., can purchase to show their support. Some of the bricks have the name and year of graduation for alumni, their coaches’ names and quotes, along with the names of others who have helped in various ways (such as former football chain gang members). By completing this fi rst phase, we have already no-
36 May/June 2013
ith a decline in student involvement, the athletic department at George Rogers Clark Middle/High School felt something needed
ticed a difference in the morale of our students. We gave them something to be proud of, and many alumni have purchased bricks to show their support of Clark athletics. We were able to use the money raised from the bricks
to pay for the wall mural and some of the trees. We also had alumni sponsor a tree. Our “C” Club, a group of out- standing student-athletes, volunteered to paint the walls outside of the gym. We also used students from other clubs to help paint, and that work counted toward their service hours for their respective club or organization.
The walls outside George Rogers Clark’s gym were decorated with images honoring past and present athletes.
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