Abandoning controversial plans to significantly expand in Buckhead, Pace Academy plans to build two new athletic facilities, one in Cobb County, several miles from the private school's West Paces Ferry campus.
School officials said Tuesday they plan to create an 8-acre softball complex on Warren Road at Defoors Ferry in Atlanta for baseball and softball, along with a 23-acre complex in Cobb County off South Cobb Drive for football, track and field, and other activities. The work wouldn't be done for at least three years. "This is a great opportunity for us to expand our program for our kids and answer the concerns that we have with our neighbors," said Mark Pirrung, head of the Pace board of trustees. "We're in a good position to sit down and talk with our neighbors about any expansion plans."
Pace has long battled its neighbors over an athletic complex on its current campus. A year ago, the Atlanta City Council voted 14-0 against the school's request to add a track and field.
Some neighbors complained because the field was to be built on a wooded, hilly lot that would have been clear-cut and smoothed at the top, then buttressed with concrete retaining walls several stories tall.
Tom Johnson, who lives on Rilman Road near the Pace campus, a year ago called the Buckhead expansion proposal "a destructive invasion of a 100 percent residential neighborhood." Johnson said Tuesday that the current plans should relieve some concerns.
"The purchase and planned use of these properties by Pace Academy should resolve many, if not most, of the divisive issues existing between the school and its neighbors," Johnson said by e-mail. "These steps by the Pace board will enable us to begin to reunite behind one of the finest private schools in the region." Pirrung said Pace officials are still considering an athletic expansion at the main campus, but any new development would not duplicate the proposed facilities. Before the new facilities are built, the school has to raise money, get the necessary zoning approvals and make on-site improvements, Pirrung said. The Warren Road property is three miles from Pace's main campus. It will become home to the school's middle-school and junior varsity baseball teams. The American Legion owns the field, but some Pace teams are using the fields now. Pace's planed upgrades to the Warren Road site include improving the building, field, parking lot and sidewalks. These improvements require a special-use permit from the city; the sale is subject to the school receiving approval, Pirrung said. Pirrung would not say how much the new facilities would cost or how much money Pace needs to raise. He said they would announce a capital campaign later this year. The South Cobb Drive facility is six miles away from the Pace campus and will require much more work. Pace intends to build a football stadium, a track and field, and an indoor practice facility. The school plans to complete the Cobb County facility before the varsity football program begins in the fall of 2009. Pace has 50 athletic teams, including 21 varsity teams. More than 80 percent of Pace's middle school and upper school students participate in at least one sport, officials said.
Pace has about 915 students in kindergarten through Grade 12. Pirrung said expanding the school's athletic facilities was necessary because more students than ever are participating, particularly girls.
"There are lots more girls involved in sports than there were 10 years ago," he said.