Centerville City Schools’ athletic teams are no strangers to competing among the best of the best. But with more than 1,300 student-athletes on over 100 middle and high school athletic teams, space to develop those top-notch skills is at a premium.

“We’re grateful for what we have, and we have been successful competitively, but having more space would be huge for our programs,” said Rob Dement, Centerville’s athletic director. “Not only would this complex create new spaces, it also would open existing spaces for other programs to use.”

That’s why the Athletic Department is launching a fundraising campaign with the goal of building an elite performance facility that expands the space available to students, coaches and community members. Construction of the facility would be funded by private donations, with no cost to taxpayers. Future operating costs would be offset by facility rental fees.

Community members are invited to attend an open house style event at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12 in the Centerville High School Central Theatre to view renderings and hear about uses for the new facility. There will be an opportunity to ask questions.

Prior to the pandemic, the school district was approached by a group interested in making a donation toward a baseball and softball facility. Discussions were put on hold over the past three years, but with new donors coming forward, district leadership felt like it was time to restart the conversation.

According to Dement, about $3.5 million has been pledged to the project so far. Plans call for the complex to be built in phases, unless the total amount of $9.36 million can be raised prior to groundbreaking.

Phase 1 includes a 21,414 square foot indoor turf practice facility with batting cages, four locker rooms and a meeting room, as well as restrooms that can be accessed during outdoor sporting events. This space would also be available for local youth teams to use for practice. The cost for Phase 1 is approximately $4.93 million.

Phase 2 includes an 18,758 square foot area with a weight room and wrestling practice room, along with locker rooms, restrooms and showers. With the addition of girls wrestling this school year, CHS alone has more than 80 wrestlers vying for limited space. This space would also be available for local youth wrestling teams to use for practice. The cost for Phase 2 is approximately $3.93 million.

Phase 3 includes 2,000 square feet of indoor storage space to house items such as track and field’s high jump pit equipment, which is currently being replaced more often due to being exposed to the elements under the football stadium bleachers. The cost for Phase 3 is approximately $484,000.

Individual donors or corporate sponsors who are interested in contributing can find more information about how to donate on the Athletic Department’s website, www.goelksathletics.com/centerville-elite-performance-facility.

Centerville City Schools serve more than 8,200 students in Centerville and Washington Township in southwest Ohio, offering a variety of educational programs to a diverse student population. The district operates 13 school buildings, as well as two preschools and a bus facility with more than 120 school buses that transport students daily to public and non-public schools. Visit www.centerville.k12.oh.us for more information.