TOWAMENCIN – It’s North Penn High School’s turn to get some much needed updating, and plans are now being finalized on a very big part of that project.

The need for parking as well as updated athletic facilities, but no additional land upon which to construct either lead to the most recent plan to construct a four story parking garage in the area currently labeled S-Lot. The remainder of the existing parking lot will give way to the new “William Bartle Athletic Complex,” so named due in large part to Bartle’s $1.5 million donation to the project.

“For a while now I’ve just been sitting on this pile of money. I mean, actually, literally sitting on it at home while I watch my sports and Dancing with the Stars and such. It really does feel great to give back,” said Bartle.

While to outside observers the project may seem excessive and garish, district officials refute that claim.

According to a statement released at this week’s board meeting, the parking garage will save thousands of dollars in snow removal and landscaping costs in just the first year, and built in traffic control in the garage will drastically cut down on the need for school employees to direct traffic. Additionally the synthetic turf surfaces on the new playing field should save thousands in grounds maintenance.

The project will include a 25,000 square foot field house, lighted, artificial turf baseball and softball stadiums, and locker room and concession areas. There will also likely be a bronze statue of Bartle placed at the entrance gates to the complex.

The field house will have a long, gleaming hallway that leads to what is currently a grassy knoll to the right of K-pod. In that area will be constructed the “Stormy Vogel Library,” a three-story academic center that will feature five classroom areas, two cafes, 150 state of the art computers, a 30’ long lighted marquee sign on the roof which will feature the weekly word,  and some microfiche machines and a card catalog for the nostalgic at heart. The current library furniture will also be placed in what will be named the “Hynes Retro-Research Wing.”

Construction is set to begin July 1^st and will be featured on HGTV’s new show airing this spring, “Love it or List it Goes to School,” so the project should be completed one hour after it begins. Contingency plans are not yet in place if the NPSD decides to List it.