Take a Seat: New Bleachers in Store for Bloom

After 45 years and thousands of fans' fannies, the bleachers at Bloom High School have seen their day. 

Though administrators have worked hard to maintain the seating at Sarff Field,  at the cost of a few thousand dollars in maintenance every summer, the school was fighting a losing battle. This summer, the school will remove the bleachers and install new, portable bleachers that should be able to house 750 people.

“Basically, we’re going to have to tear [the bleachers] down and bring in portable ones,” said Bill Brink, District 206’s Director of Buildings and Grounds. “We’re not going to move them though, once they're in.”

The new bleachers are expected to cost the school about $80,000, but a final cost won’t be tallied until the school goes to bid for the project.

The new bleachers will only hold about half the crowd of the current bleachers, which hold about 1,500. The new setup will include seating for 500 on the home side of the field and 250 on the visitor’s side.

The new bleachers will also be ADA compliant, meaning the bleachers will have a cover over the gap between where crowds place their feet and the seats. The cover will prevent objects and small children from falling through the gap.

“I think that safety is just more important than anything else, and it’s just time to remove those bleachers,” said Superintendent Dr. Lenell Navarre.

The school will begin estimates and the bidding process this week,  with construction set to begin shortly after.

—By Jeff Graveline

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