PORTLAND, Texas — The Gregory-Portland Wildcats are getting ready for their showdown with the Miller Buccaneers on Friday night.
The future of Wildcats Athletics is under construction next door to Ray Akins Wildcat Stadium with new sports facilities. It includes the new All-Purpose Practice Facility that is about 195,000 square feet, and new turf baseball and softball fields.
G-P High School senior and softball player Jalysa Alvarado said it will be an upgrade from the community fields the Wildcats are currently playing on.
"It's just all around nicer and it's bigger," Alvarado said. "So, a lot more people can come and watch and just be a part of everything."
With many G-P softball players looking to keep playing in college, Alvarado said it will be an amazing opportunity to play on a nice turf field.
"It's refreshing to see that our school and our community cares enough to give us a good field to play on and just give us the equipment that we need to move on in the future," Alvarado said.
The community approved school bonds that made these projects possible. G-P ISD Chief Communications and Engagement Officer Crystal Matern said that said Bond 2020 paid for the All-Purpose Practice Facility and Bond 2023 covered the baseball and softball fields. She explained that local industry contributed 90% for every approved bond project.
"We could not be more grateful for all of our residents who support our district, the industry who contributes incredible amounts to be able to have bonds considered by our community," Matern said. "And right now, our Wildcats feel that joy and that support."
Construction costs for the baseball and softball fields total $23 million.
The All-Purpose Practice Facility will cost $72 million to build and a fieldhouse—not funded from the bond—will be added on the end of it. That part will have meeting and workout rooms and more.
The indoor facility can be used for athletics and marching band practice—so they can avoid the South Texas weather. It will have a climate-controlled storage space for band equipment.
"Having a nice place to put all our equipment and not having to take it back into our band hall every day," G-P High School senior and drum major David Sanchez said. "That definitely plays another role, like fatigue."
With the G-P marching band placing highly in competitions this year, Sanchez said that he is excited for the future.
"Knowing that the school district, school board is going to back us up in whatever we need to help us get higher and higher over the years to come, that's definitely going to help us out a lot," Sanchez said.
The baseball and softball fields are estimated to be finished in Spring 2025—in time for the new seasons. The All-Purpose Practice Facility is estimated for completion in Fall 2025 at the start of the next school year.