By Kelsey Mcavin
Executive Arts Editor
STADIUM WAY
After a long year of renovations and anticipation, Costa’s Stadium Way, between the football snack shack, was finally completed this December.
The Stadium Way construction added cement to fix the cracked walkway, specified spots for people with disabilities, a new archway, lights, and landscaping. However the renovations took much longer than expected. They began Nov. 20, 2023, and were meant to be completed in late May 2024, but ended up conflicting with June graduation after a 7 month delay.
“The new walkway looks super good and I really like the new arch, but I feel bad for last year’s seniors. They deserved to have a good walkway to celebrate their graduation but instead it was half done,” said senior Carter Gentry. “I’m glad it’s finished for our graduation but it should have been timed better last year.
The new entrance is aesthetically pleasing, environmentally friendly, and safer, however, the complications that came with it made student’s lives more difficult. According to senior Maddy Riethmiller, the construction made it harder for students to get in and out of school.
“I used to park on Peck Avenue since my first period was in the history building last year. Since I couldn’t walk into school from that way, I was tardy a lot because I needed to walk all the way around,” said senior Gia Dionisio. “I’m relieved it’s completed now so I don’t have to worry about getting to school late.”
The newly renovated Stadium Way has caused a lot of issues over the past year, but the new archway and smooth walkway allows for a safer walk to Waller Stadium.
POLLIWOG FITNESS AREA
Polliwog Park got a new National Fitness Court on Nov. 15. The construction began in July, and its completion offers park-goers with a seven-station system to provide a full body workout in seven minutes. The system offers core strength training, and various leg exercises like lunging and squatting. According to senior Carter Gentry, who lives across the street from the renovated fitness center, the new exercise equipment is a lot more aesthetically pleasing than the old equipment and open for all ages to enjoy.
“I haven’t used the new equipment yet but now that it’s been redone I can see myself using it more,” said senior Zack Frasca. “I really like going to the gym and being outside so this is a really unique option for me if I don’t want to go to the gym. It looks a lot nicer and cleaner than the old equipment.”
The old fitness station was installed in 2008 and contained 10 pieces of equipment. It had not been upgraded until this year, and the new equipment includes both weights and machines.
“The new equipment court is super cool. I really like the seven minute circuit system instead of a ton of random machines like it used to be,” said senior Maddie Friedlander. “It makes it a lot more usable and I think it’s gonna become a really good free option for people that want to workout.”
The new exercise equipment is free for anyone and is open during park hours. This new state-of-the-art equipment includes a free mobile app for guided workouts and provides community members with access to workout machines.
“Since I live by Polliwog, this is somewhere I see myself going a lot,” said senior Seamus O’Neill. “The new equipment is a nice addition to the community and I can’t wait to start going there.”
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