Traverse City schools break ground on $17.5 million clubhouse, fieldhouse
TCAPS broke ground on a 125,000-square-foot fieldhouse meant to fill winter practice gaps for nearly 9,000 students and open East Side access year-round.
For Traverse City Area Public Schools, the new clubhouse and fieldhouse is meant to solve a problem that has lingered for years: northern Michigan winters that push athletes, afterschool programs and community activities indoors or off the calendar entirely.
TCAPS broke ground Tuesday afternoon at the Carlisle Road project site, where the district plans to build a 125,000-square-foot facility next to East Middle School. Superintendent John Van Wagoner said the site sits roughly halfway between West High School and Central High School, giving the district a central location with access off Carlisle Road and a stronger foothold on the east side of town.
The project carries a $17.5 million price tag and is being backed by a mix of about $9 million in 2018 bond dollars and roughly $8 million to $9 million in donations. The Northern Michigan Homefield Alliance has been identified as a major supporter, with a $6 million commitment, and Traverse City Tourism has also been tied to the effort. TCAPS trustees approved construction contracts in March, clearing the way for work to begin after years of planning and fundraising.
District leaders are pitching the fieldhouse as more than a sports building. TCAPS says it should support afterschool activities, STEM programming, summer camps and year-round community use. The building is expected to include a full turf field for football, soccer and lacrosse, a full-size track for walking and running, batting cages and covered indoor space for days when weather shuts down outdoor play. TCAPS has also said it expects the facility to generate enough revenue by its third year to help support programming.
That promise matters in a district that says it serves nearly 9,000 students across 16 schools and four support buildings, making TCAPS the largest district in northwestern Michigan. Advocates for the project have pointed out that even smaller districts, including Mackinaw City, already have indoor sports complexes, while TCAPS does not. In a region where long winters regularly sideline athletes and limit access to outdoor fields, the new facility is being framed as a regional gap-filler as much as a school amenity.
The public was welcome at the 4 p.m. groundbreaking, underscoring the district’s message that the building is intended to serve families, not just schools. Construction is expected to take about 14 months, with the goal of opening in time for the 2027-28 school year.
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