The Orange Beach city council recently made moves for improvements to the high school’s athletic facilities. These are just the beginning of an ambitious program for upgrades across the board for the school, eventually including an on-campus stadium for football and soccer.

“We should start on the athletic facilities adjacent to the Performing Arts Center’s parking lot on Aug. 1,” Superintendent Randy Wilkes said. “The fire department is just about finished with Station No. 3. We’ll start a demo on the existing fire station, remove all the structures, and remove the gas tank. The current weight room will be moved to storage units west of the high school campus.”

The new athletic facilities will be constructed on the school’s campus. The fire department moved from the temporary Station No. 3 at the old Public Works campus on the east end of the school campus to the nearly completed new station. The new station is just west of the school campus at Canal Road and Powerline Road.

Wilkes said the plans will include a competition gymnasium, multipurpose pavilion, multi-sport field house, track, and football stadium on the property between William Silvers Road and the Performing Arts Center. 

Competition Gymnasium

The current gymnasium is similar to most middle school gymnasiums, and it is difficult to support five volleyball and seven basketball teams, Wilkes said. The new gym gymnasium will seat 1,200 and consist of an expansive lobby, concessions, restrooms, locker rooms, storage areas, training rooms, and washer and dryer facilities. The former gymnasium will be used for middle school competitions and physical education classes.

Multi-Purpose Pavilion

A 60-yard practice facility will be constructed next to the new competition gymnasium. Many athletic curricular, and co-curricular groups will utilize the area during inclement weather. Nets will drop from the 60-foot apex to separate groups.

Multi-Sport Field House

The two-story 28,000 square facility will be between the pavilion and the stadium and house cheerleading, wrestling, and football locker rooms. The physical training room will contain six full exam tables and hot and cold-water plunge pools. Students intending to pursue a career in sports medicine will be given hands-on training opportunities in this new facility. A cheer room will have a 20-foot vaulted ceiling for stunts and tosses, while the 50×50-foot wrestling room will contain a portable mat system. A weight room will support 14 student-athlete stations and a plethora of other strength and conditioning equipment. Ample storage for the aforementioned sports will be provided. A meeting space that contains 80 lecture-style desks can be easily converted into two classrooms. An office suite will provide workspace for 20-plus coaches.

Track

Currently, track and field students do not have a track on which to practice or host events. A new eight-lane track will encompass a turf football/soccer field. The high jump, pole vault, and discus throwing areas will be north of the north end zone. Long jump lanes will be constructed south of the south end zone. The javelin throw ramp will intersect the track on its southeast corner.

Stadium

The new stadium will seat up to 3,500 spectators. Some chairback seats will be provided on the west side home stands. State-of-the-art Jumbotron, sound system, and lighting will be added. Broadcast journalism students will be afforded first-hand experience operating the sound, video, and broadcasting equipment. Sufficient restrooms and concessions will be provided.

Orange Beach Sports Complex

At recent council meetings, the council voted to award a bid for site work for a new field house for the softball and baseball teams, including extensive batting cages for both teams. The bid for the work was awarded to PL Russell for $163,104.

“The plan is to construct eight, 70-foot batting cages, four for softball and four for baseball,” Wilkes said. “The batting facilities are really going to be near the left field of the softball field,” Wilkes said. “The city plans to construct a locker room and coaches’ offices between the softball and baseball fields.

Another recent upgrade will be adding turf to the football/soccer stadium, paying Sawgrass Consulting to design the conversion from grass to artificial turf for $92,700. The softball field is already artificial turf, and in April, the council agreed to buy turf from Sprinturf for the Sportsplex baseball field for $517,890. This price is for the materials only and does not include installation.

With the new facilities, the sport tourism opportunities are vast, including basketball, volleyball and soccer tournaments, band festivals, track meets, seven-on-seven camps, athletic showcases, combines, and even concerts and movie nights. Approximately two-thirds of all students participate in Orange Beach athletics, but there will be benefits for all grades 7–12 students.

Wilkes concluded by stating that many of the on-campus constructions are 100-year projects, and there is a great possibility that families will enjoy their use for generations to come.