While students are busy enjoying their summer, the athletics office works hard taking advantage of the grant the school received last winter, according to athletic director Andy Ewald.

Hennepin Youth Sports Program chose Park as one of 13 capital grant recipients, receiving $121,000 to improve conditions at the stadium, according to Ewald. The school board decided this money will be used on improving the press box, concession stand and main entry area. The grant will also fund permanent bathrooms and a new speaker system.

“It’s in the design process still right now,” Ewald said. “We have been meeting regularly with the architect and other district administration, and we have a layout set for the press box, permanent bathrooms and redesigned concession stand.”

Ewald said there are only a few things left to do before the project will be ready for construction.

“The next phase of the design will be to work on the main entry area,” Ewald said. “We want to make it more inviting than just the open gates we have right now. After that designing is pretty much done.”

The stadium will be ready for construction soon, however, the school has structured the building time appropriately so school sports will not be affected in any major way, according to Ewald.

“Some work may happen this fall after fall sports end, but the majority of it will happen in the spring so sports will still be able to use the stadium,” Ewald said.

Freshman Abdullahi Abdullahi said he is excited about the renovations and improvements to the stadium.

“It will be nice to use clean bathrooms and to hear what is going on in games with the new speaker system,” Abdullahi said.