Friday, October 15, 2010

DAYTON DEANERY — Chaminade-Julienne High School held a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for the school’s new Student Conditioning Center and Blue Green Field Sept. 22.

Michael Ervin, co-chairperson of Greater Downtown Dayton Plan and vice-chairperson of the Downtown Dayton Partnership, and Dan McCabe, Dayton Power & Light (DP&L) senior vice president and chief administrative officer, were opening ceremony guest speakers.

“With the dedication of these facilities today you are seeing the culmination of much great work,” said Ervin. “But it really represents only the beginning of a renaissance of our city that CJ is helping to lead.”

Chaminade-Julienne High School’s new Student Conditioning Center, as seen from the Blue Green Field. (Courtesy photo)

Opened in spring of this year, Blue Green Field expands CJ’s outdoor sports conditioning areas to two practice fields, making it possible to keep student athletes on campus for after school practices. The field, surrounded by Longworth, Eaker  and Perry streets, was originally home to a steam plant operated by DP&L.

In 2005 DP&L gifted the property, valued at approximately $1 million, to CJ. The plant was demolished the same year. With the help of Kokosing Construction, as well as CJ parent volunteers, the field was graded, irrigated and seeded into an area now used for practices and outdoor events.

“DP&L has a long tradition of supporting education in the Miami Valley,” said McCabe. “We feel fortunate to provide the sports field for Chaminade Julienne to continue their outreach to their students, and help provide a brighter future for our next generation.”

Renovation on the Student Conditioning Center began in February of this year and the center was opened to student use at the end of August. The 25,000 square-foot center contains an indoor turf area, multi-sports area, multi-purpose room and, its crowning jewel, a fully-equipped weight and conditioning center.
 
The $1.6 million  project makes it possible for CJ to expand health and fitness opportunities to all students, and allows coaches to grow their cross-training and conditioning programs. The center also accommodates a wide variety of needs by the school including hosting events, meetings, student retreats and alumni gatherings.

“CJ has been at this location in Dayton for 125 years, and our founding orders have been part of this community for 160 years,” said Daniel Meixner, CJ president. “At this point in time, we want to create more spaces where the Chaminade-Julienne community can gather on campus, and provide places where our students can have the opportunity to excel in various ways. Blue Green Field and the Student Conditioning Center accomplish these goals beautifully.

“The CJ community is not only committed to the development of our campus, but also to our city,” he added. “We’ll always be looking for opportunities around us to help the campus and the southern edge of downtown to really come alive.”
 
Jim Rigg, director of educational services and superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, who attended the ceremony, said, “I was deeply impressed by the high quality of the new conditioning center and athletic field at Chaminade-Julienne High School. I have no doubt that this facility will support student development for generations to come. At the dedication, CJ was praised for leading the effort to rejuvenate downtown Dayton. It is gratifying to see our Catholic schools leading the way!”