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Facilities and Grounds Review Board Minutes – 8.25.05 

Present: Robert Coven, Jon Powell, Ellen Chartier, Marti Jenkins, Jess Garcia, Tom Baker, Ellen Chartier, Scott Byington, Louise Romanow, Don Berger 

1.      Stadium Press Box Proposal: Submitted by Jon Powell on behalf of the athletic department and the PTAA Athletic   Boosters Club.  

1. Handicap Accessibility: The committee expressed concern that the proposed Press Box would not be accessible to members of our community who are physically challenged. Jon Powell confirmed that the announcing functionality of the Press Box could be accomplished electronically from areas outside the Press Box; for example, on the elevated areas on either side of the stands that are accessible to all. That would leave the filming functionality of the Press Box a challenge. There might be a technological solution here via remote controlled cameras.

          Committee members acknowledged that the original requirement for Handicap   Accessibility was for a much larger
          Press Box that included classroom functionality. The committee also felt that the cost of $30-35,000 for a lift was
          financially impractical given the overall cost of between $50-57,000 for the Press  Box itself. 

2. Area Under Press Box: The committee agreed that the athletic department and PTAA athletic boosters should explore use of this area as it is somewhat sheltered by the Press Box above. We should consider storage and concession capability, and install electrical outlets. We also should consider improving the aesthetic appearance of the back wall of the stands. In addition, an appropriately colored (blue and yellow, or CA logo) awning could be added to the back of the Press Box to increase the sheltered area below.  Since the meeting Jon Powell has confirmed with the contractor that the support beam structure will allow for a great deal of unobstructed room under the Press Box.
    

3. Back Windows: At least two windows should be installed on the west side of the box to allow for viewing, filming and announcing of tennis matches.
    

4. The Press Box plan received approval.

2.      New Athletic Fields: The committee reviewed the recent design drawings for the new athletic fields.

A.     The committee would like to know what the new campus boundaries will be when the new fields become part of Cary Academy’s campus. Will the school gain new natural areas that might replace ones lost due to constructing the new fields?

B.     The committee expressed its gratitude for the gift of the additional land to the school and the construction of the new fields, yet clearly felt that the original location was much more advantageous to the school:

·        Kept all three athletic fields on the same side of the school

·        Kept intact natural areas and SAS pond

·        Kept intact possibility of a future pond/hillside amphitheater  

C.     The committee decided to present to the Goodnights a document briefly detailing the shortalls of the new athletic fields along with solutions to these shortfalls. Scott Byington and Louise Romanow agreed to develop this document (1 page maximum, items bulleted) by Wednesday, August 31.  Don Berger will present it to the Goodnights at his their next meeting (scheduled for September 13).

D.     The committee wanted to know if plans included fencing for any portions of the new fields’ perimeter.

E.      The committee reviewed the plans for the building located between the two new lacrosse/soccer fields and recommended:

·        that the women’s restroom contain twice as many toilets as the men’s restroom (rather than a 3/3 configuration move to a 4/2 configuration).

·        bricks similar to the dugout be used

·        relocate the covered area to separate the bathrooms and storage area, thereby gaining more covered area and better access to facility from both fields. Robert Coven agreed to redraw the design by Wednesday, August 31.  

Respectfully submitted,
Don Berger
8/29/05