Reader question: We live near Appleton West High School and see that Boldt and McMahon are preparing a site near the pool building and athletic fields for something new. No signs on the fences say what it is. What is this project? How much does it cost?
Answer: The activity at Appleton West High School, 610 N. Badger Ave., involves the construction of a new stand-alone indoor physical education and sports practice facility, an outdoor concessions stand equipped with restrooms, and an additional parking lot.
Kylie Harwell, the school district’s communications coordinator, said the practice facility and concessions stand will cost $12 million. The parking lot still is being designed and hasn’t been put out for bids. It will be located between the back of the school and the tennis courts.
The projects were authorized as part of the $129.8 million capital referendum passed by voters in November 2022.
The target completion date for the new facilities is August 2025.
Harwell said a sign announcing the project will be added to the fencing this week.
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The Appleton Area School District maintains a website about the referendum, projects and timelines. It has a link to 12 videos that explain the referendum, including a video on the middle and high school benefits.
In the video, which was published ahead of the referendum, Superintendent Greg Hartjes said Appleton West has about one-third of the land that Appleton East and Appleton North high schools have.
“So they have a need for this additional practice facility,” Hartjes said. “Obviously during the school day it will be used for many purposes, specifically physical education.”
The video also mentions the addition of an atrium at West that would serve as a cafeteria during the day and as a gathering space for events in the evening, but Harwell said that project did not proceed.
Appleton West was built in 1938 as Appleton Senior High School, which still is inscribed on the front of the building. The school was renamed Appleton West in 1967 after Appleton East was built. Appleton North opened in 1995.
Post-Crescent reporter Duke Behnke answers your questions about local government. Send questions to dbehnke@gannett.com or call him at 920-993-7176.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Work on indoor sports practice facility gets underway at Appleton West
