Mayor Greg York left Monday’s city council meeting early so that he could talk to the New Castle School Board about his plan to improve the “quality of life” in the city. York asked the school board to consider expanding the Fieldhouse as a way to attract more tournaments and competitions to the area. The mayor called the Fieldhouse “a key to our community.”
“I’m not trying to jam anything down your throat,” York said. “I’m just saying, as we’re putting the sports plan together, would this help enhance our community?”
York said the New Castle community is “way behind in facilities for youth programs” and needs to focus on quality of life efforts to attract young families to town. The mayor wants the community to add several sports facilities around town to support more events and improve the parks for locals. While most of his proposal is focused on Northfield Park around the YMCA, the mayor wants to see the New Castle Community School Corporation invested in the project.
“If we haven’t made an investment within the next 10 years in the youth ... I think we’re going to be on the short side of the stick and we’re going to be embarrassed,” York said.
According to artist renderings, the New Castle sports plan includes three soccer fields and a restroom built north of the YMCA. Two large baseball fields and three little league fields would also be built, along with two youth football fields. The plan calls for an indoor tennis court to be added to the existing YMCA building, as well.
The proposed project would expand the Fieldhouse more than 100 feet into the current high school parking lot. York said the new structure could support four basketball or volleyball courts and “numerous wrestling mats.” New Castle schools could also use the facility for physical education classes.
York said the school would own the facility, not the city. The mayor said the sports complex will proceed even if the school corporation does not expand the Fieldhouse.
“I’m proposing that you create a stirring committee of the school board to say ‘Yes, we’re interested in looking at this,’ looking at need and financing and moving forward with it,” York said.
“I appreciate the visionary perspective that you have here,” said school board member Liz Whitmer. “Who do you anticipate will be the users of this?”
York pointed out that New Castle hosted the 2015 Indiana High School Dance Team Association Championships. The IHSDTA estimates that 6,000 people attended the championship competition. New Castle has hosted the southern wrestling semi-state competition for several years. York pointed out that the girls softball team brought 50 teams and families to New Castle within the past few months.
Restroom facilities are the number one deficiency in New Castle parks, York said. Baker Park hosts the annual Miracle League baseball games and there is not a handicap-accessible restroom anywhere on the property. York told the board that the city is applying for grants to build 12 handicap-accessible restrooms in parks around the community.
The school board took no action on the proposal Monday night.
