When the Watonga School District undertook a bond to construct the new gymnasium and other projects, it was hoped that the building would be more than an additional space for student use.
With the upcoming wrestling and basketball regional competitions coming to town in the next few weeks, that hope is bearing fruit for the school and the community.
The 3A West Regional wrestling meet will hit the mats Feb. 20-21 and run all day. With 35 teams expected, it will be a packed house, meaning the town and the parking lots will be full to overflowing.
“We have the space, the technology and the volunteers,” said Superintendent Kyle Hilterbran.
The school district, when it met on Monday, took steps to remedy that situation by agreeing to create an overflow parking area at the school that could later be used as permanent parking or put to another use.
The overflow area in question is on the southerly and western side of the new bus barn, but east of the drive. Hilterbran had checked with surveyors and civil engineers the school has used on some of its projects and was assured using the area for parking would not cause drainage or flooding issues. The plan is to put down four inches of gravel, then have it smoothed and packed before the wrestling tournament. The cost is expected to be about $11,000, well under the bid ceiling. Alan Bernhardt of B&W Ready Mix is on tap to do the work.
The gravel can be reclaimed if the area is later selected for another use. The estimated cost to concrete the area for parking is around $300,000 and asphalt is nearly as costly at nearly $270,000. Those estimates do not include the cost of engineering and other site work.
The gravel as a temporary surface should not impact drainage in the area, Hilterbran was told by the civil engineers.
The parking area may see another workout when Watonga hosts basketball 2A regional games, which are scheduled for February 24 for the winner’s brackets as well as February 26-28 for the consolation games.
Watonga has been selected as the regional main site meaning at least four games will be held here.