In a sprawling field southeast of Nixa High School, construction fencing is up and heavy machinery has been moved into place.
Crews are getting ready to start constructing a massive athletics and activities center.
"Hopefully, we'll be breaking some ground in the next week or two," said Brandon Clark, activities director at Nixa High School. "They're staging and we are going to start building on that very quickly."
The 105,000-square-foot multipurpose indoor facility was part of the $47 million bond issue approved by voters in April 2023.
Facilities like the one planned in Nixa are extremely rare at the high school level, especially in Missouri, and indoor activity centers that have been built, or are being planned in the region, typically have much smaller fields.
The one in Nixa will be "football field size."
"People don't realize how big this space is going to be," said Kevin Kopp, assistant superintendent of elementary education and district operations. "We could have multiple groups in there at one time, not just one activity or group."
The multipurpose facility will include a community room, locker rooms and concession areas. It will be used as a practice field for sports teams, the marching band, intermural clubs and other student groups.
The project is the first major development on a 38-acre parcel next to the high school. The plan is to eventually add baseball, softball and other practice fields.
"Not only do we have the 120 yards of turf space but there is also a mezzanine that will have some flexible space," Kopp said. "There will be two classrooms up there, more locker rooms and ... flex space about the size of a basketball gym."
The project is expected to be complete next summer, in time for the 2025-26 school year.
In a survey last fall, 77% of parents said they wanted more athletic options for their children and 85% wanted more club and activity options.
Superintendent Gearl Loden said the district did not have enough space to expand its offerings and add options so the facility was needed.
The district set aside "up to $20 million" for the project but the expected cost came in lower at $16.8 million.
"Our bids came in at a very good price," Loden said. "We were able to do everything that we would like to do."
Loden said the district is still looking at all the of the ways it could use the new space.
"You could have simulators for your golf team. You have could pitching cages for softball, baseball," he said, adding it would also be a good space for archery.
Eventually, the district wants to be able to host local, state and national competitions and open the facility up to the community.
There will be space for meetings, athletic and activities banquets, community events, and the classes available to the public through the One Nixa program.
Anyone from Nixa or the surrounding area can sign up for a wide range of classes through the community outreach program. The upcoming options include knitting, origami, meal planning, cookie decorating, and tips for parents, young drivers and families wanting to build their credit history.
Clark said there will also be a walking track.
"The surface will be turf on the main level but there will also be a lined walking track on the outer edge that will be great for P.E. but also for the community to use," he said.
Clark said scheduling practice times is a challenge, especially in the fall with so many athletic and activities vying for space, and this year-found facility will make it easier.
"It gets misguided sometimes that this is a sports facility and it's truly not," he said.
He said it will be used regularly by marching band, Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, and even art and theater classes.
"Because of the growth of our school district, we're getting to the point where we're starting to max out the number of kids, especially at the high school, that can participate in sports and activities," he said.
The district is offering more nontraditional intermural clubs to get students involved.
"We started pickleball and that went really well. Next year we are going to do things like frisbee golf and cornhole," Clark said. "To have a facility like this would allow us to expand our intermural program and get more kids involved ... This will give us more space to expand access."
Craig Finger, director of bands, said the only space large enough for the 235-member marching band to practice is the stadium.
"The stadium is wonderful and our band room is great but obviously we can't march in our band room," Finger said. "The hindrance we have is weather."
Finger said the district guards against heat-related illnesses, which means practicing outside is not an option when the temperatures exceed certain levels.
"Sometimes, we are just not able to get on the field. We try to schedule around the hot parts of the day," he said. "But if we are forced inside, we can work some music but we can't work the show itself. And then of course rain."
He said having the indoor space will be a huge change because some of the competitions and performances each year are in domed buildings.
"Performing inside a dome versus outside, it's a totally different listening environment so you have to rehearse differently," he said.
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