Thursday, October 28, 1999
Response positive to high school, rec center
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
MASON — Initial public reactions are favorable to a planned collaboration between Mason Schools and the city of Mason to develop a joint high school and community recreation center.
However, residents did raise a variety of questions about the ambitious project.
Nearly 300 people gathered at Mason High School on Tuesday evening for a two-hour community meeting on the venture announced last week.
Besides the high school and recreation center, Mason would also construct a new city building on the 73-acre site along Mason-Montgomery Road, between Main Street and the current high school.
Consultant William DeJong estimated the school and recreation center together would be about 500,000 square feet and could be built at an estimated cost of $60 million to $70 million, depending on amenities in each building.
Architect Earl Crossland showed preliminary drawings with the three buildings constructed along an arch-shaped boulevard with parking in the rear and separate drop-off points for buses and drivers. A second sketch showed the buildings closer together with a village green effect in front and more space for development of sports fields.
Parent John Stagich said he likes the centralized location and the plan to share facilities — including the existing fields, gymnasium and stadium at Mason High School. He likened the project to creating a medium-size college campus.
“This makes sense,” said Mr. Stagich.
Concerns raised by participants during small group discussions related to traffic, safety and management of the facility. Many also questioned whether the high school would be large enough to accommodate future growth.
Enrollment, now at 6,088, has increased an average of 5 percent over the last five years and is projected to hit 10,000 by 2004. Most liked the location — in the center of Mason — and the creation of a school cluster.
When completed, all students in grades 4-12 would go to buildings on either side of Mason-Montgomery Road at or near the civic complex.
“What they have proposed here is the ideal. It's the right approach,” said Jim Christopher, who has three children in the Mason Schools. “People move here because it's growing and it's growing methodically. There's still that concern how they're going to keep up with the growth.”
Mason High School senior Kyle Carter, who is on the swim team, said he likes the idea — particularly if it includes a swimming pool.
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