Changes are coming to the athletic fields of Elizabethtown Area School District (EASD), and the upgrades will benefit both students in the district and the greater community.

The district broke ground on the project in October, and it is projected to be completed for the 2024-25 school year.

"This project will have a positive impact on all of our student-athletes," said Bill Templin, EASD athletic director. "It will also have a positive impact on all of our students by improving their experience in physical education classes. And that benefit is year-in and year-out, not just a one-time benefit."

Improvements will include leveling off the jumping area with the field area for an improved fan experience for jumping events as well as resurfacing the track and all jumping areas. "The current surface was aged and well beyond its useful life as a PIAA track surface," Templin explained.

A state-of-the-art turf field will also be installed. "It will be wide enough to have a regulation-size soccer field in addition to football, field hockey and boys'/girls' lacrosse," he noted, adding that the field will allow increased use of the stadium and its facilities.

"In the past, we held competitions only on the grass playing surfacing totaling about 15 uses a year," Templin shared. "We anticipate now being able to practice and compete on the field in excess of well over several hundred uses. More importantly, as our main stadium, we would anticipate being able to host a much larger number of game events than the current 15."

The project will also include the construction of a three-story field house that will contain locker rooms, restrooms, a space for athletic trainers to treat athletes and a weight room. Additional changes include adding an ADA-accessible entrance to the fields and improving EMS access to the stadium as well as a new bus parking area for visiting teams to safely drop off their players and coaches.

Templin emphasized that along with athletes, other students will benefit from the improvements as well, including members of the marching band, who will be able to practice regardless of weather without worrying about damaging a natural grass field in wet or muddy conditions. "The field house and field/track project will greatly benefit our academic programs as well, as our students in PE class will have access to both the weight room and field for class," he said.

While the project is underway, the district's spring track and field team is relocating to Elizabethtown College for practices and one home meet, Templin said. "We are grateful to the college for the partnership," he commented. "We are also extremely appreciative of our student track and field athletes, families and coaches, who will have an unusual season. They are enthusiastic about the project and looking forward to the new facilities in August."