The Superintendent of Gallipolis City Schools announces developments at the Gallia Academy Stadium and the STEM project

GALLIPOLIS, Ohio (WSAZ) – Construction crews will soon break ground on a new health and wellness facility on the Gallia Academy High School campus. Gallipolis City Schools Superintendent Craig Wright says this is the latest development in Gallia Academy Stadium and the STEM project.

“The governor approved the Appalachian Community Grant, which was $2.6 million for a wellness center,” Wright said. “As part of this project, we were also able to add concessions and restrooms so that the stadium encompasses approximately the entire stadium.”

Wright says the health and wellness facility will be staffed by Holzer Health System, Hopewell Health Centers, Health Recovery Systems and district personnel. It will provide on-site medical care, optical and dental services and behavioral health services for GAHS students, staff and the community.

The new facility will be built around the track complex, perpendicular to the existing multi-purpose athletics and academic building. Wright says additional stadium upgrades are in the works.

“As soon as this starts, we will provide lighting. We just resurfaced the track. We have a playable field and that’s all good. Then we’re actually looking at a press box and bleachers. We have money set aside for the scoreboard and things like that, so we’re just reaching out and asking our community to help us,” said Wright, who applauded the community for the donations that have already helped get the project to this point .

The ultimate vision is to make this property the home of Gallia Academy Blue Devil football and say goodbye to the beloved Memorial Field sometime within the next three to five years.

“There’s a lot of history at Memorial Field. That’s what we’re trying to bring here. We also want to involve our VFW and community members to make this just as special,” Wright said.