Construction is continuing on a multipurpose building for USD 257, a project that will provide flexible indoor space for a wide range of student sports and activities.
From marching band rehearsals to batting practice, the 6,000-square-foot building is designed to support athletics and other school programs year-round.
According to USD 257 Director of Operations Aaron Cole, the intent from the start was versatility.
“It’s for whoever’s going to need it,” Cole said. “It’s not really specific to just one activity.”
“Any way we can use it in the district, we are willing to,”he said.
Plans for the building include a pair of retractable batting cages, each approximately 70 feet long, 14 feet wide and 10 feet high, which will hang from the ceiling.
When not in use, the cages can be moved out of the way to open up the full interior space.
The layout will also include bench seating in one corner for students to change shoes or gear, along with a secured, chain-link storage area for equipment.
Cole said the district is also considering installing restrooms just outside the storage area that could be accessed from both inside and outside the building, serving nearby facilities such as the middle school practice field and tennis courts. 
A key feature of the project is artificial turf. Cole said the district was able to significantly reduce costs by purchasing used turf from an indoor track and athletic facility.
The turf, which Cole said is in good shape, cost about $10,000 — far less than the estimated $55,000 price tag for new material — and will help make the space ideal for indoor practices and activities.
While the exact cost of the building has not been finalized due to remaining bids on items such as netting and batting cages, Cole noted that taking on parts of the project internally — such as installing the turf — has helped make it affordable. “Doing some of it on our own has definitely made it possible for us,” he said.
Cole said the goal is to have the facility ready by mid-March.
He added that the district is awaiting final approval of an alarm system from the fire marshal and the installation of heaters.
If all goes as planned, the multipurpose building could be finished in time for spring sports season, providing USD 257 with an indoor practice and activity space that Cole says is a major asset.
“It’s exciting news,” he said.
