By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
McKENZIE — Construction for a new multi-purpose sports and physical education facility began December 1 at McKenzie High School. Immediately as the MHS football team departed the school en route to Chattanooga for the championship game, earth-moving equipment excavated the football practice field and started construction of a new multi-purpose building.
The new 33,710 square-foot facility, at a cost of $3,989,720, was approved by the Board of Education upon the retirement of the school district’s only long-term debt that funded the construction of the new high school in 1998.
Lynn Watkins, director of schools, said the new building will be used for physical education classes, and practice of soccer, band, softball, baseball and football. Completion is expected in the summer of 2023 by general contractor Lashlee-Rich, Inc.
It will have heat and air, men’s and women’s dressing rooms, two retractable hitting cages for baseball and softball an artificial turf floor - 50 yards of regulation football yardage and markings which include an end zone. There is also a baseball and softball diamond in the turf design.
Basketball teams will continue to practice in the gymnasium.