School serves up E-SPLOST upgrades

Pike County school campuses are seeing some changes as E-SPLOST projects are underway. The area in front of the primary school is being graded and will soon transform into tennis courts and a parking lot.

“The existing tennis courts are unusable and do not allow us to host tennis matches,” said superintendent Shane Williamson. “The cost associated with refurbishing those courts in that area of campus was not a reasonable solution.”

Phase 1 of the project includes construction of new courts along with around 80 parking spaces. It will allow for competitive tennis matches along with parking for spectators attending baseball games, football games and tennis matches.

“The lot on Highway 19 in front of the Pre-K building and the Ninth Grade Academy has provided 90 new parking spaces and provides access to the football stadium,” said superintendent Williamson.
In a recent post, a graphic showed that those parking in front of the two schools closest to Highway 19 can walk right past the auditorium to the entrance of the stadium.

Phase 2 of the project will include paving a roundabout and three additional lanes to provide adequate access to Pike County Primary School and alleviate traffic on Highway 19 during pick up and drop off times.

“Pike County Schools, in collaboration with our local board of education, is committed to achieving excellence for our students,” said Williamson. “Over the coming months, several exciting E-SPLOST funded improvement projects will begin across various areas of our school campuses. We are excited to give our students and families a campus they can be proud of.”

Due to construction, Pirate Drive (the road between the Ninth Grade Academy and the primary school) will be closed to traffic from 2:20 p.m. to 3:05 p.m. Primary school parents are asked to enter the driveway next to Ruth’s Restaurant and pull around to line up behind the NGA building if the primary school driveway is full. Parents of elementary school students and high school students are asked to use Old Meansville Road and follow that end of Pirate Drive to pick up their students until construction is complete.

Jack Pilkenton Field, known as The Jack, and home to the two-time state championship Pirates baseball team, will see upgrades too, including new bleachers and a single entranceway for fans. The home side will have room for 350 fans in the bleachers and the guest side will have room for 250 fans.