Published: November 04, 2009 08:57 pm      

Brook Hill dedicates new athletic center Friday

By Nathan Straus

nstraus@jacksonvilleprogress.com



BULLARD — Brook Hill School officials are ready to open the doors to the campus’ newest facility.

The grand opening and dedication for the Kyle Lake Athletic Center are scheduled for Friday on the school’s main campus.

The center dedication will take place at 5 p.m. It will be part of a full schedule of school spirit presentations, beginning with a 2:05 p.m. pep rally.

At 25,000 square feet, the facility will house a 5,000-square-foot weight room, modern training and medical facilities, varsity boys and girls locker rooms, offices for athletic directors and coaches, a film room, a cheerleading room and the Founder’s Suite, which will overlook Herrington Stadium.

Work began on the structure about 14 months ago in August 2008, said Laurie Humphries, director of development for Brook Hill.

“The athletic center cost is $3.2 million,” she said.

According to Humphries, the center was started because the school’s current gym was only built for basketball — and for a much smaller group of children.

“With the addition of football and all the growth, we went from 31 kids to just over 500 in 13 years,” she said.

Humphries said the new athletic facility gives students a place to explore their potential in athletics, and provides them with the privacy and equipment they need to grow as athletes.

The Kyle Lake Athletic Center was named after Kyle Lake, the first athletic director at Brook Hill. A Brook Hill press release stated Lake prayed for the school to become a reality and served as director of the summer camps program before the school opened in 1997. A native of Tyler, Kyle was an avid soccer player and sports enthusiast.

He served as the pastor of University Baptist Church in Waco until his death in 2005.