Repairs coming to Nunley Stadium
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“We’re worried someone could step on loose concrete and fall,” said Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale, explaining the potential hazard.
The board’s decision to preserve the aging stadium, including the eventual replacement of the press box and new concession stands and visitor’s side restrooms, essentially means the high school athletic department’s proposal to build a new stadium at the high school is dead. The athletic department now wishes to have a multi-sport fieldhouse built on the campus instead.
With the exception of some makeshift work done to the press box roof and the building of new restrooms in the late ’90s, Hale said to his knowledge very little renovation work has been done to the stadium since it was constructed almost 50 years ago.
“It’s time we do something. The stadium has been open since 1957 and it’s old,” he said.
The initial renovation work, to begin shortly after the school year ends early next month, will involve the reinforcement of the existing concrete bleachers. This capping will be done by pouring new concrete, mixed with a bonding agent, on top of the old concrete. At minimum, the estimated cost of this work will be between $125,000 and $150,000.
Hale and some members of the school board met earlier last week with the county commission’s Education Committee, whose own members expressed their support for stadium renovation.
Committee chairman Bill Zechman described Nunley Stadium as a facility with a lot of potential, but said in its current state it is “pathetic.”
“Personally, I’m embarrassed by it when we host out-of-town visitors,” Zechman said.