Lakers celebrate new additions

Windermere Preparatory School is kicking off the new year with major additions to its campus.

The athletic fields on the back of the campus have received a facelift, and the Lower School playground has undergone a complete overhaul, redesign and reconstruction. 

The Lakers celebrated the new upgrades at two ribbon cuttings Thursday, Jan. 11.

“The stadium and playground renovations mean that our students are able to enjoy state-of-the-art facilities that will help them develop as athletes, students and people,” Head of School Dr. Mitchell Salerno said. “Everything we do at WPS is centered on our students and their experience, so these projects bring us great joy. We hope that our current and future students enjoy these spaces as they grow and develop.”

Photo by Annabelle Sikes

A LONG JOURNEY

Steven Shehan, Windermere Prep director of operations, said the ideas for the stadium upgrades started in 2021. “As the programs have continued to grow, we have such a limited space and the constant usage of the field would wear it out (as well as) trying to maintain it,” he said. “So, putting in an artificial turf field allows us to have so many more practices, sessions and activities out there.” 

Once the plans were made, the school then had to wait six months for approval from Orange County to move forward with the project. 

Before renovation started, Windermere Prep student-athletes who play football, lacrosse or soccer had been training on the same multi-use fields for more than 20 years. 

“We’ve waited quite a long time for this facelift that our facilities definitely needs,” head track and field coach Devin Bennett said. “We are one of the only teams that doesn’t have a regular facility, and in spite of that, we’ve been able to qualify people to the state championships during the years that I’ve been coaching. So, it really is encouraging that now that we are finally receiving the proper facility, that we expect a lot more improvements in our team. It’s an exciting time for the kids and for the community and for the parents and coaches, as well.” 

Photo by Annabelle Sikes

PATIENCE REAPS REWARDS

The Lower School playground and the stadium field both received approvals in August 2022.

Work on the playground began April 24, 2023. Construction began on the stadium June 5.

Although the new multi-sport artificial turf field and the installation of a rubberized track will bring a plethora of benefits to the school, these are not the only renovations that have been in the works.

The weight room was expanded by 500 feet, the gym floor was redone with revamped hardwood floors, the tennis facility and basketball courts were refinished, and two sand volleyball courts were added.

Director of Athletics Patrick Hollern said the transformative enhancements to the Lakers’ athletic facilities over the last two years epitomize the school’s unwavering dedication to comprehensive excellence.

“This stands as a testament to the value we place on each student-athlete and every sport within our program,” he said. “The impact of these improvements extends to 15 sports within our program, encompassing upgrades to the gymnasium, weight room, outdoor sports court and tennis courts. The installation of a state-of-the-art synthetic field turf, a premium rubber track and the addition of two pristine beach courts reflects our commitment to providing a top-tier environment for athletic achievement and growth.”

At the Lower School, all the old playgrounds were demolished, and new playground equipment from Kompan, as well as new surface materials from Forever Lawn, were installed.