LEBANON — Lebanon City Schools is preparing to open a new privately funded indoor turf facility this fall, giving its athletic programs another year-round training option while expanding opportunities for students and youth organizations throughout the community.
The 10,200-square-foot facility, located inside the District Performance Center at 160 Miller Road, is scheduled to open in October and will officially be known as the Braden Athletic Center through a five-year naming partnership.
The project was spearheaded and funded by the Lebanon Athletic Boosters in support of Lebanon Athletics and the school district, allowing the facility to be developed without placing an additional financial burden on taxpayers.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for project contributors is planned for Friday, Oct. 16, followed by a community open house ahead of Lebanon’s home football game against Walnut Hills that evening at VanDeGrift Stadium. Additional details are expected to be announced as plans are finalized.
The project transforms one of the district’s eight indoor hardwood gymnasium floors into a multipurpose turf training area capable of serving several sports throughout the year.
The District Performance Center, which is no longer attached to a traditional school building, provided Lebanon an opportunity to repurpose existing space while expanding the district’s indoor training capabilities.
The facility will feature safety padding around the perimeter, upgraded lighting and ventilation and a retractable mesh curtain that can serve as a backstop for throwing, kicking and hitting drills. Sport-specific markings on the curtain will include outlines for a football goal post and lacrosse and soccer goals.
An existing divider will allow multiple groups to use the facility simultaneously during busy training periods.
Another centerpiece will be “The Upper Deck,” a loft area equipped with a full baseball and softball batting cage system.
The space won’t be limited to Lebanon’s interscholastic athletic teams. District physical education classes and Warrior Built programs will have access to the facility, and local youth organizations will be able to rent the space when it is available.
The Braden Athletic Center name recognizes a cornerstone contribution from Lebanon residents Aaron and Brittany Braden, whose financial support helped move the project toward completion.
Their contribution was supplemented by donations from numerous families, alumni and businesses. A donor recognition board honoring the individuals and organizations that supported the project will be displayed inside the facility.
Lebanon officials said partnerships with community members, alumni and businesses have become increasingly important as public school districts navigate funding challenges while attempting to maintain and improve athletic facilities.
The district also expects to announce two additional significant partnerships in the near future.
Lebanon Athletics has emphasized several avenues for private support, ranging from Athletic Booster memberships and small-business sponsorships to corporate partnerships and naming opportunities associated with future capital improvement projects.
The Braden Athletic Center represents what Lebanon officials hope those partnerships can accomplish — improving existing facilities and creating new resources for students without relying on additional taxpayer funding.
The district will get its first opportunity to showcase that investment in October, when the doors open on a facility designed to serve Lebanon athletes, students and the surrounding community for years to come.
