GREENFORD - Community members are being invited to see the new South Range Local Schools sports complex.
The South Range Athletic Boosters are hosting an open house from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday in celebration of the Phil & Gerry Rominger Foundation Sports Complex. The ceremony will be held at the locker and weight room facility to the south of the K-12 campus, 11300 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield.
Named for the benefactor which recently committed to donating $100,000 or more annually through the 2030's to South Range schools, the athletic and sports complex features two separate facilities- the 12,000-square-foot locker and weight room facility, including locker rooms for middle and high school football and girls and boys soccer, and the football field and all-weather track on the other side of Columbiana-Canfield Road. The football field is not yet equipped to host varsity football games, though, according to schools Superintendent Dennis Dunham.
A shuttle will be provided to transport visitors between the two facilities and strawberry shortcake and ice cream will be available while supplies last.
The district is using Locally Funded Initiative (LFI) money left over from the K-12 campus project bond issue that must be used on construction. The locker and weight room facility cost approximately $1 million and the track cost approximately $611,000. Eastgate Regional Council of Governments announced in February announced plans to a pedestrian tunnel under the roadway to provide safe access between the facilities at no cost to the district.
According to Dunham, the sports complex enhances the school's role in the lives of students and community members.
"The K-12 campus has just been phenomenal and it's fantastic to be able to provide the locker room, weight room and all-weather track to the students and community," he said. "We've gone above and beyond what we thought we could do with the bond issue revenue. It's really been a great benefit to the kids, and that's what it's been about since the beginning."
The all-weather track is currently open to the public for walking. The locker and weight rooms will be open beginning Monday.
