ASHLAND – Construction work is progressing quickly at the site of the Keith Wygant Memorial Field House.
Crews from Simonson Construction were hard at work Wednesday getting structural beams in place and constructing arches over doorways that will soon say “Ashland Arrows.”
School district officials and donors broke ground for the approximately $3.8 million building in September.
Private donors have committed over $1.8 million to the project, superintendent Doug Marrah said. Of that, $500,000 came from Norma and Lloyd Wygant, who gave the naming gift in memory of their son.
Located at 1495 Hiner Ave., just south of Community Stadium and just north of the condominiums on Avalon Drive, the 40,000 square-foot field house will include three full-size basketball courts that will double as volleyball or tennis courts. The facility also will feature a baseball and softball hitting area, an indoor walking track, a wrestling room, a weight room, locker rooms, restrooms, a concession area, a classroom and meeting area.
The Ashland City Schools Alumni Foundation is raising money for a Walk of Champions, which will lead between the field house and the stadium with benches and bricks paid for by donors. Marrah said he expects funds raised through the Walk of Champions not only to fund the decorative walkway itself but also to help the district outfit the field house.
Marrah emphasized the field house will allow more athletic teams to practice at once, getting many student athletes home earlier in the evenings to manage homework or spend time with family. The project also continues the improvements to Community Stadium that began last year with the grandstand upgrades.
“It’s great how much better it will be for our community and our athletes,” Marrah said.
Once the facility is complete, Marrah said the district intends to open the field house walking track to neighbors from the nearby condos a couple times a week. Additional details about that community program will be released at a later date.
