Gainesville School releases design renderings of new sports complex
A drawing of the up-and-coming Gainesville School sports complex, done by 4Most Sport Group, a Pennsylvania-based sports field design company, shows how the ball fields will look on the former airport property, across High School Drive from the Gainesville High School.
4Most Sport Group, a Pennsylvania-based sports field design company, was hired to design the Gainesville sports complex on the school property where the Gainesville Airport used to be. Gainesville Superintendent Justin Gilmore said a lot of in-kind contributions have been pledged toward the project, and the school is hoping more will come. He said the work on the complex has already begun and is expected to last through the next school year.
The Gainesville School district is moving forward with plans to build a new baseball/softball complex across from the high school on the former airport property.
Gainesville Superintendent Justin Gilmore shared architect renderings of the complex with the Ozark County Times, and the superintendent said the school is looking for in-kind contributions from the community.
“We are very hopeful to get some in-kind contributions from our local families and community members in order to make this the best facility possible,” Gilmore said. He said they were seeking help with concrete and excavating, among other things.
The school board voted in April to build the complex, which will also include an outdoor classroom and a multipurpose room (in the former Real Life Church building). The cost of the project will be around $1 million, officials have said.
The Gainesville School District acquired most of the former airport property last year in a land swap with the city of Gainesville for the Hoerman Memorial Park.
The school also bought the former Real Life Church building and property which includes two houses and the 5,700 square foot metal church building that has been updated with new HVAC, spray-foam insulation and has two updated three-stall bathrooms and other multi-purpose rooms. The cost to the school district for that property was $335,000.
Gilmore said some in-kind contributions have already been pledged, and work on the complex has begun. “Randy Donley is planning on dropping off his dozer in the second week of July. He is going to be donating his dozer and operator to help get a rough grade,” the superintendent said. “Morrison Fertilizer has already been to the field and sprayed where we will be building the fields.
“I am hoping by the first week of July we have the specifications ready for the ballfields,” Gilmore said. “Once we get the specifications, the district will go out to bid. We are hopeful to have seed in the ground by the end of September. The entire project will most likely take next school year.”