Renovations and upgrades total $46 million
Writer / Michelle Kaufman
Greenwood Community Schools are currently in the middle of a $46 million renovations project, and one of the corporation’s two, new buildings opened January 6.
The Greenwood Activity Complex, a 30,000-square-foot indoor sports facility, is already in use by athletic teams and winter color guard. The complex features three basketball or volleyball courts, a two-lane track, indoor and outdoor restrooms and an indoor and outdoor concession stand.
When Greenwood Superintendent Dr. Kent DeKoninck took the position in 2013, he discussed facility improvements with the school board. The middle school was aging and room for more athletic-related activities was needed.
“In the midst of talking about our middle school, we also knew that we needed more space for our physical education classes,” DeKoninck said. “We needed more area for our youth leagues, and our elementary gyms really weren’t appropriate for them to practice in. They’re too small and have carpet, so getting practice time for those youth leagues was tough.
“It’s added space for our athletic teams,” he added. “Before, you’d have athletes running in hallways and running into each other, so now there’s actually space for kids to be in there for our athletic activities. I kept hearing from our athletes and our coaches too that we just don’t have enough facilities.”
Both in and out-of-season sports will use the complex, and it will be open for youth programs after team practices. With two, wood courts, a volleyball net and one rubber court, with lines for a tennis court, all athletic teams can do things year-round, including running and hosting tournaments.
“If the community wants to use it, obviously they’ll be last priority over all our kids, but the community can use it,” DeKoninck said. “It kind of just opens up all that area for us. It was a need we had. The school board has to be the one who says, ‘Hey, let’s do this,’ and then they charge us with making it happen. Our community has to support it as well.”
In addition to the activity complex, new tile, lights and benches were installed in the high school pool, and new lights and air conditioning were recently added to both the main and auxiliary high school gyms. The new Greenwood Middle School, off Averitt Road, will be open in time for the 2017-2018 school year.
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