If anyone has been to the Briar Patch over the past 50 years, you remember that the fieldhouse was at the south end of the field and down several steps. The new facility will have two levels with one being level with the field...no more steps.

That's a big step up from Clara Morrow field.

I was told it would have a 70 yard indoor practice field. 

1 hour ago, Carl Spackler said:

I was told it would have a 70 yard indoor practice field. 

Any idea when construction is going to start? I see that excavation and some land clearing has already happened. 

2 hours ago, Jumper_Dad said:

Any idea when construction is going to start? I see that excavation and some land clearing has already happened. 

I think as soon as school gets out the 2nd week in May.  It is supposed to be finished by the end of the year. 

Be good to practice in on bad weather days or if Kentucky has one of those extremely hot summers where you would normally have to practice early in the morning or late in the evening.

How do schools afford this type of facility? 

Good for Somerset!

4 hours ago, J. Peterman said:

How do schools afford this type of facility? 

In this case this is another step in a multi-year across the system up grade to all schools and facilities. I believe there was a bond issue by the school system as well as facilities upgrade funds available from other sources. 

They've stepped the facilities up.  Last summer, did a full renovation of the old YMCA Alumni Center with weight room upgrades.

12 hours ago, Jumper_Dad said:

In this case this is another step in a multi-year across the system up grade to all schools and facilities. I believe there was a bond issue by the school system as well as facilities upgrade funds available from other sources. 

Many have this, and I'm assuming Somerset does as well, but did the Nickle and/or Dime Tax pass. However they got it, good for them.  I love to see it. 

In conjunction with the new facility, one tradition at Somerset will be no more.  The stairs leading from the fieldhouse, up to the field will be taken out.  Going up those stairs before games was something that most of us former players will always remember.  With that being said, there will be one last chance to walk the steps.  Before the spring game on May 6th, at 600pm, all alumni are invited to take a final walk up the stairs to the field before they go away.  I'm planning on climbing them one more time....

On 4/20/2025 at 4:06 PM, J. Peterman said:

How do schools afford this type of facility? 

Some schools have wealthy alums who care about their community and sports programs and/or looking for a tax write off. Not uncommon, I look at South Warren High School who just recently eclipsed their 10 year mark as a school and their set up is remarkable. That statement was even valid before they just built one of the best indoor facilities in our state, but that was solely raised by their Softball and Football programs (or so I’ve heard). All in all it’s beneficial for some and puts shame to others.

26 minutes ago, TheBallCoach said:

Some schools have wealthy alums who care about their community and sports programs and/or looking for a tax write off. Not uncommon, I look at South Warren High School who just recently eclipsed their 10 year mark as a school and their set up is remarkable. That statement was even valid before they just built one of the best indoor facilities in our state, but that was solely raised by their Softball and Football programs (or so I’ve heard). All in all it’s beneficial for some and puts shame to others.

 

On 4/20/2025 at 4:06 PM, J. Peterman said:

How do schools afford this type of facility? 

Donations, Grants are a big thing that helps pay for them, multi sport use, and some school boards aren't afraid to go into the red to help pay for things. a SOKY school put classrooms in their football stadium and added it to their vocational campus and got it paid for by reaching into multiple pockets. Nickel and Dime property taxes also help fund some of these things. 

 

The Warren County schools spread their money to all schools, South Warren was the last to get turf and the first to get their indoor. Greenwood is currently having one built I believe. Not sure of the plans for Warren East and Warren Central, but they all have had their facilities updated recently.