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Lovington schools seek Lea County help to fund $5.2 million Wildcat Stadium parking project
Summary
Lovington Municipal Schools asked the Lea County commission to consider funding toward a $5.2 million project to build a new parking lot and bus loop at Wildcat Stadium, citing safety, ADA access and traffic-flow concerns; the district said it has $332,000 committed from DOT and district funds and is asking the county to help cover the remainder.
Lovington Municipal Schools Superintendent Pam Quionis urged Lea County commissioners on July 1 to consider funding for a proposed $5.2 million parking-lot and bus-loop project at Wildcat Stadium intended to improve safety, ADA compliance and traffic flow during events.
Quionis told the commission the district has secured $200,000 in Department of Transportation funding and has $132,000 in district savings—a total of $332,000 toward the project—leaving the bulk of the $5.2 million cost outstanding. She said bonding capacity is currently exhausted and asked the commission to consider county assistance to complete the project.
Quionis showed photos of crowded parking and described safety risks if an emergency occurred at a packed event. Project plans include expanded parking (regular and ADA stalls), drainage improvements, a secure fence, a dedicated bus loop and marked parking stalls to reduce unsafe driving and “doughnuts.” The district supplied an engineer’s cost estimate and said Wilson and Company provided the estimate breakdown in the presentation materials.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about whether the project expands the parking footprint (the district said the plan primarily reorganizes and formalizes existing space rather than increasing square footage) and about funding options; staff noted the district would not likely be able to complete the work on its own soon because of bonding and other priorities.
Superintendent Quionis left materials and cost breakdowns with the commission and said district staff and engineers are available to answer follow-up questions. No formal county appropriation or vote on the request occurred at the meeting: the item was presented as a funding request for future consideration.
