After almost four years since the opening of the new high school, the time has come to make it complete.

On May 17, 2016, the Board of Education ensured that GRC would become a total campus by approving construction of the athletic complex.

“The fact that we will be able to have functions that the whole school can participate in weighed heavily on the board’s decision to approve the construction of the athletic facilities,” said Supt. Paul Christy.

With the recent approval by the state, designs for the athletic facilities are underway.

During the October Board of Education meeting, the architects will present more finalized and detailed drawings of what the new complexes will look like. The plans will then go to the Kentucky Department of Education for approval.

“I don’t anticipate any problems with that,” said Christy. “I have already met with them and they know what’s coming.”

After approval, the detailed plan will go to bid and the cost of construction will be determined. Once the bid is accepted, construction will begin.

“I’ve set a lofty goal that I would like to see us playing basketball in the gym by March of 2018,” Christy said.

The gym is only a small part of many state-of-the-art athletic facilities planned for GRC.

The other facilities include soccer and football complex with artificial turf, an eight-lane track with field event facilities, six tennis courts, a baseball field, a softball field, and a field house with a 60-yard practice field in front.

Based on how the bids come back, Christy said, the board will decide what fields will be built first. “We want all the facilities to be state-of-the-art,” said Christy. “When it’s done, it’s going to be done right.”

The new facilities will serve not only GRC, but the community as well.

“We are making sure that all the athletic venues have the appropriate sized fields and seating that will enable us to host regional events in all those areas,” said Christy.

Preliminary plans call for the gym to seat 4,500 people, which would make it the only venue in Winchester able to hold such a large crowd. “I am hoping to be able to hold graduation indoors,” said Christy. “To me, that is as important as hosting regionals.”

The excitement and anticipation from students surrounding the construction of the new facilities is growing, and with all that is being planned, it is easy to see why.

“I think with these new facilities,” Christy said, “we not only will see a higher level of participation, but also a higher level of success.”