Brecksville-Broadview Heights Fieldhouse adjacent to new school on track with budget

By Emily Chesnic

While the COVID-19 pandemic brought a bit of a slowdown, the city of Brecksville’s fieldhouse now is under roof and progressing along uninterrupted.

Regardless of a short-term delay at the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Mayor Jerry Hruby said the project continues to move along on schedule.

“COVID did slow us down, but we caught up. I am pleased we are on schedule and on budget,” he said of the project.

The fieldhouse currently stands at slightly more than 50 percent done. The walls and roof have been installed. Windows are being put in at this time, Hruby said.

“We are satisfied with the progression. Everything seems to be going really well,” he said.

The fieldhouse will include a running track and basketball courts, with the city of Brecksville funding the construction.

According to the city, the cost of the fieldhouse project is estimated at $7.3 million.

The fieldhouse construction is set to conclude in April 2022, coinciding with the completion of the Blossom Hill School project. That project is also taking place on the 185-acres of city-owned land on Oakes Road, known as the Blossom Hill property.

The fieldhouse, which will connect to the two-story school, which is also under construction at this time, is being conducted as a separate project.

The fieldhouse and new school are being built between the city and Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District.  In 2018, the school district and city exchanged parcel of land as part of an agreement. The land-swap provided the city with the Central Elementary School property, about 3.6 acres in size, and 10.5 acres of land on Stadium Drive.

The city and school district will share a portion of the school and fieldhouse, according to an existing agreement between the two parties.

City officials have indicated the fieldhouse and school, which will replace four existing district-owned elementary schools, will further enhance the community, providing modern facilities and equipment for enriching the educational and recreational experiences for area students and residents. ∞