Halifax County schools present final designs for new athletics complex, including accessible parking and practice facility

The Halifax County Public Schools project team briefed the joint facilities committee on the design and near-final construction documents for the new athletics complex, saying design work is wrapping up and contract documents are being prepared for permitting and construction.

Project staff walked the committee through the site plan, identifying the new high school footprint, a primary bus-loop parking area that provides about 266 parking spaces, a secondary faculty parking area of roughly 149 spaces, and additional school parking totaling about 359 spaces. They said a new pedestrian sidewalk and a 15-foot-wide broad walk will lead from the plaza to the football stadium.

The presenters described seating and support facilities: the home side will have about 2,100 seats; visitor stands are placed opposite the home stands; a press box and storage/grounds buildings sit near the baseball and softball fields. The practice facility includes synthetic turf, two locker rooms (one with 50 lockers, one with 40), coach offices with private restrooms and showers, laundry with commercial washers and dryers, trainer space with two hydrotherapy baths and an ice machine, and substantial storage and mechanical spaces.

Concessions and toilet facilities were shown in plan. Staff said the number of fixtures in the toilets is set by building code based on a 3,100-spectator design capacity, and that the concession area is arranged with two equal serving stations and a central point-of-sale layout.

Accessibility elements highlighted in the plan include six additional accessible parking spaces close to the main entrance, four accessible spaces near the gravel lot with a gated fence access to fields, and gates that allow shorter routes to baseball, softball and football seating. Presenters said ADA-accessible routes are being incorporated into the design to reduce walking distances for people with disabilities.

Committee members asked about repurposing a monument for the "wrecking crew" and about ways to recognize the state champion baseball team and other notable local athletes; project staff said they will work with the district to include appropriate recognition elements in the design.

The presenters also said they are preparing the construction set for final pricing; subcontractor pricing was expected to be returned within a matter of weeks for vetting. The committee did not take a formal vote on design details during the briefing.