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Rogers Stadium renovations to get underway

PHOTO PROVIDED This rendering shows ELA Group’s design for a renovated Rogers Stadium at Bellefonte Area High School.

BELLEFONTE — Construction will soon begin at Bellefonte Area High School’s Rogers Stadium.

Site demolition is to start later this month, and the entire renovation of the stadium is expected to cost approximately $7 million. Construction is anticipated to be finished in time for the fall 2019 football season.

During the past two meetings of the Bellefonte Area School District’s Board of School Directors, plans for the renovation and its contract have been discussed. At their Wednesday, April 4 meeting, board members voted 6 to 2 for the contract agreement, upon project manager review, associated with Phase 1 of the project, with Jon Guizar and Robert Pacella dissenting. Board member Hope Boyleston was absent from the meeting.

Some feel that the renovations are happening too soon, as original estimates had the construction starting in January 2019. The large price tag is of major concern.

Guizar mentioned he does not feel comfortable since with the construction start date pushed up, not all the papers needed are in hand, in regard to permits and bids.

Others, like Superintendent of Schools Michelle Saylor, feel the sooner the project begins, the better, due to safety concerns.

“Those bleachers are not in great shape; we’ve had several people fall through those bleachers over the last couple of years,” she said. “We are going to put senior citizens and we are going to put young children in those bleachers.”

Another concern that has arisen is in regard to graduation not being able to be held on the football field due to construction.

“Graduation is the most important thing we do at Bellefonte High School, and you’re putting football in front of it,” Pacella said.

Saylor stated graduation has only occurred once outdoors in the past six years due to weather.

“I’ve had nothing but positive feedback from everybody involved,” school board president Rodney Musser said later. “They have seen nothing to indicate that I should be worried about what’s going forward.”

For Phase 1 of the project, synthetic turf will be used for the new field with markings for football and soccer sewn in. As the seasons change, other sports’ markings can be added, said Scott Smith, of ELA Group, Inc., which has been tasked with the stadium’s new design. Underneath the synthetic turf field will be a stormwater management system, which will have a stone-based layer to collect and detain stormwater for the site.

Existing bleachers will be torn down, with new bleachers installed to accommodate about 3,400 people. The new bleachers will be on one side of the stadium, which is close to the current occupancy on both sides of the stadium. There will also be a press box and new field lighting installed, with all LEDs.

Site demolition is expected to begin April 30, Smith said. Dedication of the renovated field is expected to take place Sept. 7, just in time for Bellefonte’s first home game.

Phase 2 of the project, which will begin shortly after Phase 1 is complete, will include an eight-lane track project. The eight-lane track will be a rarity in the area, with only one of the nearby schools — State College Area High School — also having eight lanes, Smith said. Bald Eagle Area High School is the next contender, with six lanes.

Phase 2 will also include construction of two field houses, a concession stand and restroom facilities.

Funds for the project will come from the school district’s budget, capital campaign fundraising and grant money.

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