Merced Union High School District breaks ground on two new gyms

Merced Union High School District officials broke ground Tuesday on new gymnasiums for the Atwater Falcons and Merced Bears that will be large enough to hold their entire student bodies.

The new gyms at Atwater High School and Merced High School are expected to be ready for use in the 2017-18 school year.

The funds for the projects, with each costing about $7.5 million, became available through a bond-refinancing deal and passage of the Measure M school facilities legislation in 2008.

“Not only did this refinance save our county $28 million over the next 30 years, it allowed us to free up $18 million … enough to build both of these desperately needed gyms in Merced and Atwater,” said Alan Peterson, superintendent for Merced Union High School District.

Richard Lopez, the MUHSD board president, said “standing room only” will be a thing of the past for sporting events.

“Promises made in 2008 finally will be fulfilled,” he said.

Each gym will be about 25,000 square feet and include 2.5 basketball practice courts, three volleyball practice courts, maple floors, two restrooms, two offices for coaches, a weight room and two team rooms. The gyms will seat about 1,800 for athletic events and 2,300 for school rallies.

The gym at Merced High will be built where three tennis courts now stand and will be visible from G Street. Atwater’s gym will be built behind the school’s existing gym.

Both high schools were built in 1959, and the gyms no longer can house all of the students.

This story was originally published May 24, 2016 at 9:33 AM with the headline "Merced Union High School District breaks ground on two new gyms."