Board member urges athletic complex on alternate site to improve access and parking

A board member urged the Colman-Egan School District to consider an alternate site for a new athletic complex that would avoid the constraints of building next to the slough and provide significantly better spectator parking and access. She presented a photo of the Centre Ville Athletic Complex and said the district "has an opportunity to build an athletic complex" that could be "the envy of other schools."

The speaker said many community members reacted positively when shown the Centre Ville example and argued the district should prioritize convenience and inclusivity: "Some of you have parents that might not otherwise even consider attending a sporting event here unless it were as convenient and welcoming as theirs is." She emphasized that better parking would allow many spectators, particularly grandparents, to remain in their cars or have short walks to the stands and urged the board to "do it right." The recommendation included exploring land the speaker said she knows would work for that purpose.

The board took no immediate action on site selection at the meeting; the item was framed as a community suggestion to be considered alongside development planning and future agenda items.