ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. — Fairfield Community Schools will break ground today on a new Student Activity Center, a project that will be done without raising taxes.

Dr. Carrie Cannon, superintendent of Fairfield Community Schools, says the project has been in the works for two and a half years.

After forming a task force and committee to examine the district’s needs, it became clear that increasing the number of gyms and exercise spaces was a priority.

The new facility will feature a 640-seat grandstand section, baseball cages, a mezzanine and a spacious lobby. The two-story structure will also house volleyball and basketball courts, as well as classrooms for a variety of activities.

Cannon said the need for indoor practice space becomes critical as the winter season approaches, especially for spring sports, which begin when the weather is still challenging. He believes this facility will be key to allowing athletes to train year-round.

“We wanted to reach out to as many sports teams as possible and this has been awesome, especially in the offseason when they want to train. We just don’t have the gym space right now to do that, especially with our sports teams. It’s going to be exciting,” Cannon said.

The Student Activity Centre is scheduled for completion next November, with the next phase to begin shortly thereafter.

This is just the beginning of a multi-phase project for the district. The next phase is already on the calendar. Next fall, Fairfield will begin construction on a brand new auditorium and fine arts space. It’s part of the district’s commitment to offering comprehensive opportunities for all students.

Phase three has already begun and includes the renovation of all four Fairfield school buildings, kicking off a three-year process.

“I always say that facilities should make us proud when we walk into them. When we have that much pride in our community, it’s amazing. I see it all the time in our sporting events, our extracurricular activities, our fine arts programs. But we want to have a facility that our kids can walk into and feel welcome, feel like it’s 21st century, and also compete,” Cannon said.