A group of concerned citizens, represented by Eric McNeese and Mark Bessent, addressed the Brownwood ISD Board of Trustees Monday night regarding concerns for needed upgrades to the high school athletic facilities to make them both ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and UIL compliant.

The citizens have spoken with Claycomb Associates, architects who were brought on by BISD in November to provide a master plan, site analysis, facilities and business studies, and cost estimates for any repairs and builds that may be needed.

“We’re visiting with the architects to hopefully come back to you all with some suggestions on what those options might be,” McNeese said to the board.

The list of concerns at the athletic facilities, which were presented via Power Point, are as follows:

GORDON WOOD STADIUM

• side ramps into the bleachers is an issue for mobility-impaired
• no wheelchair access, no handrails along the steps up or down the bleachers
• lighting is below UIL standards and creates poor visibility for the fans and athletes
• seating expansion needed on home side as the crowd often overflows the stands and temporary bleachers are being used on the track
• press boxes are aged with no access for mobility-impaired

MORRIS SOUTHALL FIELD

• one bullpen in play down left field line, one just outside right field fence
• flooding is frequently an issue due to location
• lighting is below UIL standards
• ample room for safe parking along the backside of the field with entrances from Magnolia
• stands are in poor condition with an outdated design, discrepancy to softball stands

LADY LIONS SOFTBALL FIELD

• lighting is below UIL standards
• ample room for safe parking along the backside of the field with entrances from Magnolia

WARREN GYM

• no elevated wheelchair access to seating areas
• girls locker room and showers in need of update
• boys locker room and showers in need of update
• hallways between the locker rooms and bathrooms too narrow, need expanding
• 2 washers and 2 dryers in cramped area not designed for new equipment to service the entire athletic department
• boys and girls training room too small to handle current equipment and student numbers

TENNIS COURTS

• improved seating areas could improve spectator experience, attract more spectators

SNODGRASS BUILDING

• limited space, expansion needed for weight room equipment, number of students
• turf room needs expansion to assist multiple teams at once, current turf is 25 years old

Brownwood ISD Board of Trustees President Michael Cloy said after the presentation, “Thank you for your time putting this together. It is pretty obvious we need to do some things to upgrade, and there are some necessities to satisfy some ADA needs, and accessibility needs. Frankly speaking there needs to be quite a lot done in athletics. We do a good job of taking care of what we have, but just like the human body, with age things wear out and sometimes things just need to be replaced.”

Further discussion is expected at future school board meetings.

To read the Board Book regarding other aspect of business during Monday night’s meeting, click the following link: Board Book / Board Book (brownwoodisd.org)