Lodi school board to consider improving Tokay High School’s bleachers
Tokay High School’s bleachers have seen countless spectators for football and soccer games, track meets and graduation ceremonies.
After more than 40 years of service, the bleachers need to be replaced, and have for a while, according to Michael Holst, Tokay High’s athletic director and head football coach.
“I went to school there in the early 2000s, so at least for that long,” Holst said.
Although not included in the original plan, the Lodi Unified School District Board of Education will vote on whether to include the $3 million bleacher improvements to an existing $3,294,000 track and field improvement project, according to Warren Sun, senior director of operations for the school district.
The current bleachers are not wheelchair accessible, have narrow walkways and lack seating for disabled spectators and their companions, according to the proposal submitted by Leonard Kahn, the district’s chief business officer who was unsure why the bleachers were not included in the original plan. As a result, their replacements would need to include these features in order to comply with ADA regulations.
“Portions of the existing bleacher system are not in compliance with the ADA. Regardless of whether this project is approved or not, we would have to bring those portions into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act’s codes,” Kahn said.
Sun added that incorporating the bleacher improvements to the existing track and field project could help save time and money, as the district would not need to solicit bids for a new project. If approved by the board, Sun expects the project to be completed by July or August of this year. The new ADA-compliant bleachers would be able to accommodate up to 3,900 people, Sun said. This would more than double the stadium’s current capacity, according to Holst.
“If I had to guess, I’d say we’re somewhere in the range of 1,250 to 1,500 people. That’s my estimate, anyway,” Holst said.
The current track and field improvement plan includes installing artificial turf for the football and soccer field, Holst said. An all-weather artificial track is also being installed, along with designated spaces for track and field events.
“We’ll be able to have all of our track and field events in the stadium area. In the past, we’d have events like shot put and the discus throw in a separate location. The project also includes lights for the field, which is something we haven’t had. We’re waiting patiently, it will be a big deal for Tokay if we get it, ” Holst said.