The St. Bernard Parish School Board is planning major revisions to the Chalmette High and St. Bernard Middle athletic facilities, and work will begin within the next few months.
"It is obvious that the stadiums received damage during Katrina, and now that school construction is well underway, we can focus on the football and baseball stadiums," said School Board Architect Albert Carey.
Carey said that structural engineers have inspected each of the stadiums and that they are stable and none call for replacement. Some concrete and rust damage needs repair at both sites, and some of the steps leading up into the seating areas also need replacement at Chalmette High. St. Bernard Middle's track and football and baseball fields will also be redone.
"The stadiums are stable and do not need to be replaced. However, some repair work is warranted so that we can continue to seat people and host sporting events now and into the future," he said. The work will also lead to new concession areas, new press boxes, locker rooms, bathrooms, and other repairs.
Architect Michael Lachin, who designed the 9th-Grade Academy, is also completing designs for repair work to the stadiums. Lachin is also putting together plans for repairs to the 10-12th grade classroom building at Chalmette High, including upgrading science labs and the cafeteria. Plans are also on tap for two new athletic field houses on site at the football and baseball fields.
The Board hopes work on the stadiums will begin immediately and has directed architects to work around sports seasons. Contractors will be chosen in the next few months.
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