WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Sketch plans for Allentown Central Catholic High School’s proposed athletic complex were reviewed by the Whitehall Township Planning Commission on Wednesday.
Commissioners had few questions regarding the 100-yard-long, artificial turf playing field, synthetic eight-lane running track, press box, scoreboard, bleachers, restrooms and 3,000-square-foot training and storage building.
Commission members did have questions about ancillary issues such as sewer and water access, stormwater runoff, curbing and sidewalks, overflow parking and traffic flow.
Those issues will be addressed to the commission's satisfaction, developers said.
“This will give the students a great space for athletics that we currently don’t have."Dennis Csensits, associate director of athletic advancement, Allentown Central Catholic High School
The complex site, which spans 23.61 acres, is bordered by Reliance Street to the north and Ruchsville Road to the south.
Dennis Csensits, ACC boys basketball coach and an associate director of athletic advancement, said an agreement of sale has been reached but not finalized for the property from Jaindl Realty LP.
Csensits would not disclose the pending purchase price following Wednesday’s meeting.
Funding to come from capital campaign
The high school, at 301 N. Fourth St., Allentown, is raising funding for the project and other initiatives as part of a capital campaign to make its 100-year anniversary in 2026.
Csensits told the planning commission that establishing an athletic complex the school could call its own has been some 15 years in the making.
“This will give the students a great space for athletics that we currently don’t have,” he said.
ACC is the only high school in the Diocese of Allentown that does not have its own athletic fields.
The turf field will be used by ACC's junior varsity football team, boys and girls lacrosse teams and boys and girls track and field teams.
The varsity football team will continue playing its home games at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown.
Sketch plans reveal broader details
The sketch plans show a shot put and field event area to the north of the turf field. Five tennis courts with bleachers also are planned.
On the northern-most end of the site, the sketch plans show a multi-use grass field.
The planning commission suggested plans should include building restrooms near the tennis courts.
Curbing and sidewalks are not included in the sketch plans, but are required. Representatives with Barry Isett & Associates, an engineering and consulting firm, said they would likely request a deferral.
Adrienne Motley, Central Catholic's director of alumni relations, said in a September interview that the school hopes to use the complex for most, if not all, sports teams, except football.
If all goes well, the complex will open for student use sometime next school year, Motley said.
“We need to really make sure we have this to provide what our kids need,” she said.
Randy Rice, Central Catholic’s principal emeritus, said in September that the athletic complex will help the school save money on field rentals for sports, such as soccer and lacrosse.
Instead, those teams and others will use the new complex.
