JORDAN-CHRISTOPHER PURVIS
Staff Writer
By now, the news of all the new changes that occurred over the summer here at Fredonia have been widely disseminated.
In July, Dr. Dennis Hefner was appointed as interim president. Three weeks ago, Willy C’s $900,000 renovation project was finally revealed. Lastly, students and staff were welcomed back this semester to “Blue Devil” themed bleachers.
“People are just excited,” said Athletic Director Gerald Fisk.“ It looks like a modern gym. Coaches and student-athletes are ready to play in there.
“I think that [adding new] bleachers were important because the [previous one] weren’t safe, and weren’t ADA compliant. There weren’t walkways up the middle of the bleachers, there weren’t [any] handles. So when they hosted some games, access for some people with physical limitations were hard. [Now], the new bleachers are ADA compliant, they’re safe, I don’t have nearly the same concerns [as I once had previously].”
So just how much did these new bleachers cost?
“The overall budget that includes design and construction was estimated at $400,000,” said Markus Kessler, the director of facilities planning. “However, the project came in under budget by $158,000. Design was $7,000, bleachers $220,000 and electrical work $15,000 for a total of $242,000.”
So what does Fisk have planned next?
He mentioned that there is a big project in the works.
He couldn’t disclose any more information, but said that hopefully it will become public knowledge by the end of the year.
“Besides that, there will be a few more performance center upgrades,” said Fisk. “We’re working on new equipment for the fitness center. Few other big projects; we got some work that’s being done on the baseball field, the soccer field. It had some issues last year that we’ve worked through with the help of the grounds crew, and that’s in good shape now.”
If you haven’t already had the chance of seeing the newly designed bleachers, on Sept. 27, Fredonia women’s volleyball team will be hosting New Paltz at 6 p.m. at Dods Hall.