— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Bethlehem Township’s Planning Commission has one item of new business on its April 28 agenda:
Freedom High School Athletic Building Land Development Plan
That item is probably the same as described in this link.
From the Bethlehem Area School District’s website: “In May 2024, the Board approved a project to install a new fieldhouse at the Freedom High School turf field,” and later, preparation work of $98,500 is described as part of the total budget of $550,000.
So, it’s another half-million or so dollars being spent by the BASD. I live in the district and don’t begrudge my school taxes — I went to public school too — but somehow when it comes to sports, there is always money available.
Freedom High is not the only school putting up facilities. Notre Dame High School, which is private, plans a fieldhouse, and in east Allentown, Executive Education Academy Charter School plans to build a stadium.
There are lots of stadiums already, including J. Birney Crum in Allentown. Executive Education is a charter school, so it is publicly funded. Its plan is to build near Coca-Cola Park, the baseball stadium that was also funded by public money.
These days, $550,000 for a fieldhouse is perhaps a bargain. Many houses in Bethlehem Township cost more than that, although the BASD already owns the land for the athletic building.
I don’t know what the facilities at Freedom are like. Perhaps an upgrade is in order.
I did watch in awe a few years ago as the cost of renovations at Cottingham Stadium in Easton soared, until there was public kickback.
At one meeting, as the multi-million-dollar renovation was discussed, one school board member focused on where appliances would be placed in the snack bar. That is local government for you.
The final price tag to the Easton Area School District was about $16 million. Without some public resistance, it could have been more. Bids for the work were around $20 million.
The Bethlehem Township Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 28. Here is the agenda and a link to a webcast.
Agendas are subject to change. Check the township website closer to the date of the meeting.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 