People attending events at the Grove Athletic Stadium at Hamilton High School will soon notice a new facility on the grounds. Thanks to generous contributions from the Sussex Lions Club and the Hamilton Athletic Booster Club (HABC), a new press box will be erected behind the visitors’ bleachers on the north side of the stadium. The Lions Club has committed $55,000 to the project and HABC will donate at least $20,000. In addition, the Hamilton Chargers football team will fundraise for the project, and the school district will contribute the remainder of the cost estimated to be $40,000.
The facility will have 500 square feet of occupied space for staff and coaches who are filming and scouting games. The new facility will allow the existing press box to be used for news media and game management officials such as scorers, announcers and game clock operators.
Work on the project is expected to begin in the spring and is projected to be ready for the fall football season. School staff members have gotten some cost estimates, but hope to finalized construction contracts when they are able to confirm if local parents are able to donate their labor for masonry and interior work.
The facility will have a split-face decorative block exterior with metal panels and a rubber-covered wooden roof. Storage for track and field equipment will be accommodated on the ground level.