SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — For years, Parkland School District’s football games have been held at Orefield Middle School.
That soon may change.
The district is considering building what it calls a Multipurpose Athletics and Wellness Complex just south of Parkland High School off Cedar Crest Boulevard.
The projected cost is $19 million, according to a presentation made at Parkland School Board committee meetings Monday.
The proposed renderings show a stadium with an 8,500-person capacity and a turf field with the Parkland logo at the center.
"If we're going to sink dollars into upgrades that are needed, that it would be better suited in the long run to put this facility at the high school."Superintendent Mark Madson
The complex also would have a field house with a concession stand, restrooms, a turf practice field and its own parking lot.
The idea of building a stadium at Parkland High School isn’t new, Superintendent Mark Madson said at Monday's meeting.
“That was the plan way, way back when, was to put everything onto one campus so that we would be able to use it for not just one sport, but multiple sports, as many sports as we want to in the fall and in the spring,” Madson said.
“We'd have a place for the band to go. We'd have adequate locker rooms and storage facilities that we can't add to the current high school project even if we wanted to because of the space.
"And so we talked about, 'Well, if we're going to sink dollars into upgrades that are needed, that it would be better suited in the long run to put this facility at the high school.'
"And so that's what the recommendation is."
Madson said the band now practices in the parking lot.
Why now?
The proposal comes as the district is moving forward with building additions to the high school and Orefield Middle School.
The fate of Orefield's stadium off Route 309 is unclear if the Multipurpose Athletics and Wellness Complex is built.
“We don't need the decision today. We don't even necessarily need it within the next few months. But certainly as we keep moving forward, we'll bring more definitive plans about what this would look like.”Parkland Schools Superintendent Mark Madson
Parkland Director of Communications and Community Engagement Nicole McGalla said in an email that the district’s Orefield stadium is too small, does not have enough parking and is “in need of extensive repair” and upgrades.
“If the complex moves to PHS, we have the space to build a right-sized field house and locker rooms as well as create the ability for all Parkland varsity sports to be housed on the PHS campus,” McGalla said in the email.
McGalla did not clarify whether the current stadium would be demolished if the new one is built.
But preliminary plans for the Orefield Middle School renovations show the stadium as a "no build zone."
Madson emphasized that the plans for the complex are preliminary, and the board will not have to decide right away on whether to build it.
“We don't need the decision today." Madson said. "We don't even necessarily need it within the next few months.
“But certainly as we keep moving forward, we'll bring more definitive plans about what this would look like.”
