PEA RIDGE — Years of dreaming and planning culminated this week for the Blackhawks with the ribbon cutting Saturday of the new multipurpose facility providing a place for all athletes to practice, dress and work out.
Blackhawk athletes, coaches, fans and city and school officials gathered for the ribbon cutting in the new multi-purpose facility building constructed on the high school grounds.
Cheerleaders cheered and others applauded as the key to the building was passed from Jim Minor of Baldwin and Shell to School Board president Jenny Wood and from Wood to High School principal Rick Neal.
“Go Blackhawks,” many yelled.
“This isn’t the first. It’s not the biggest. But, it’s the most exciting,” Steve Elliott, architect with Lewis, Elliot, McMorran, Vaden,Ragsdale & Woodward, said. Elliot has been the architect for several projects for the school district over the past several years. “I believe these young athletes can see themselves playing for the Razorbacks.”
An open house is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24.
The 45,166-square-foot building cost $2,385,910 and includes a 50-yard long synthetic field turf, batting cages and Blackhawks in red in the endzone. The indoor practice area is more than 31 feet high at the center.
At one end of the building is atwo-story block building with a 6,600-square foot weight room on the top floor overlooking the practice field. Beneath are locker rooms, showers, classrooms, offices and an office for the trainer.
Cheerleaders can keep their competition-sized mat down at all times.
Before the construction of the building, cheerleaders rolled their mats out in the lobby of the high school gym. Football players were dressing in the locker room designed for fewer people than were crowding in there, Josh Ramsey, board vice president, said.
“We as a school boardwanted something for everyone,” Ramsey said, adding that there is room for all the extra-curricular activities in the building.
“This facility is by far the best in 4A and really competes with 7A. I’m proud to be a Blackhawk.”
Larry Walker, athletic director, said: “This is something very few schools of our size have. I’m glad to be a part of something this nice.”
“I’m really proud of this.
I’ve got to see their (students’) faces when they walk in the first time. They say ‘Wow!’ You can see the pride,” Tony Travis, head football coach, said.
Jim Minor, Baldwin and Shell Construction Company senior Northwest Arkansas project manager, said the facility may save a life as it provides protection from the extreme temperatues of both summer and winter.
Mayor Jackie Crabtree and Angie Pratt, representing the Regional Chamber of Commerce Serving Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri, joined school officials in the ribbon cutting. Both former school superintendent Mike Van Dyke and interim superintendent Dr. Roland Smith were on hand for the ceremonies.
News, Pages 1 on 09/21/2011