Photos by Tevin Sanson Reynolds head football coach Pat Crowley.voices his frustration with the Hanes Park Master Plan during a meeting held last Thursday. Crowley said city offi cials have failed to include the Reynolds family in their decision-making Winston-Salem Council Member Jeff Macintosh discusses the master plan for Hanes Park during a drop-in meeting at Wiley Middle School on Thursday, June 16. Macintosh, the representative of the Northwest Ward, said money for the master plan is for repairing things that need to be fixed. Reynolds supporters dismiss Hanes Park master plan BY TEVIN STINSON THE CHRONICLE A meeting to unveil renovations plans for Hanes Park quickly turned into a heated debate last Thursday evening when a group of supporters of Reynolds High School hijacked the drop-in meet ing to voice their frustra tions. The initial purpose of the meeting, hosted by Winston-Salem Council Member Jeff Macintosh, was to give stakeholders in the community a chance to see the $1.75 million in renovations expected to begin on the park later this year. Bu all that changed when Reynolds' head foot ball coach Pat Crowley marched into the meeting with a large group of foot ball players wearing the schools iconic black and gold colors. While standing on a chair surrounded by varsity and junior varsity players inside the Wiley Middle School Library, Crowley read a prepared statement on the current condition of the school's athletic facili ties, and the need for improvements. Since 2012, athletic boosters at the school have pushed for major renova tions to the school's gym nasiums, and the building of a football stadium on land owned by the school next to the park. Later that same year. Home Field Advantage, a campaign to raise funds, was started by athletic boosters and other support ers of the Reynolds athletic department. Although it is unclear how much the cam paign has raised thus far, the goal is $4.5 million, according to the cam paign's website. As he addressed the dozens in attendance, Crowley said that while the main campus has benefitted from multi-million dollar renovations over the years, when talking about the ath letic facilities, Reynolds quickly goes from first to. last. "Bryson Gymnasium has an incredible history and charm. However, it has been over 60 years since the building has been upgraded or renovated," he continued. "There is no air conditioning in the entire building, the locker rooms, bathrooms and shower areas are an absolute dis grace." "The sad part is that Bryson is probably the schools best athletic facili ty." Crowley then named a list of issues currently plaguing the school's auxil iary gymnasium, which it shares with Wiley. He also discussed the lack of space for other sports teams to practice play games, and host events such as the boys and girls soccer and lacrosse teams, track and field teams and a host of others. "Our stadium is seven miles from campus. The track has pot holes and we haven't hosted a home track meet in years." said Crowley. "If you have any doubts, I'll be happy to give you a tour of our facil ity." Another issue athletic boosters and school offi cials had.with the detailed plans was, the fact that, the tennis courts located in the center of the park would remairi, preventing the school from widening the track to include eight lanes instead of six. According to previous plans presented to the community on Dec. 9 of last year, the tennis court would be removed. Principal Leslie Alexander mentioned that during the city's plarinirtg process, the voices of Reynolds supporters were not always heard. She said, a number of families are concerned that city officials would create a master plan without including space for renovations that have been in discussion for a number of years. Alexander also mentioned that the original purpose of Hanes Park was to serve the .schools in the area as well as the commu nity. She said, it seems over the years, Reynolds' fami lies have been left out of the . " decision making process. "I can't speak for all the Reynolds families, but I know a number of families - are concerned, about that," said Alexander. "They want to make sure their voices are heard when decisions are being made on land that belongs to the school. "As principal its impor tant for me to be here to say how I feel, but it's more important that the families and students are heard." While a number of resi dents who attended the meeting were there to sup port Reynolds, not every one who lives in the vicini ty of the park thinks the sta dium is a good idea. A group called Save Hanes Park (SHP) has worked against the building of the stadium since talks began in 2012. SHP representa tive Elizabeth D. Coyne said she is very enthusiastic about the master plan. "Hanes Park is nearing its centennial and is one of the most used parks in the city. It is more than a neigh borhood park; it is a city wide park," continued Coyne. "With so many groups invested in the park, it needs a master plan. "I am grateful to Council Member Jeff Macintosh for leading the effort to get a master plan inplace." Freda Gordon, who has lived in the area for more than 40 years said, the sta dium would create more traffic issues for the area. Gordon mentioned at times she can't even cross the street because of speeding motorists. "We already have enough traffic, and I think building a stadium would cause more problems," she said. "I don't think that's something this community needs." After hearing the com plaints, Macintosh, who was viaibly distraught said he did not appreciate his meeting being hijacked for the puipose of discussing other issues. He went on to say although gymnasium renovations and the inclu sion of the stadium were not included in the master plan, that doesn't mean they cannot be added in the future. "The money for .this master plan is for the spe cific purpose of repairing things that needed to be repaired, maintenance, and beautifi'cation," he said. "We aren't saying other things can't happen, but our money was fqr a purpose, we raised it, and that is how were are going to spend it." Wake Forest* In p*ftn?f?hip with 4*MEOCOST* Baptist Health July community health seminars, screenings and events Visit WakeHealth.edu/BestHealth for class descriptions and other events. Events are FREE of charge and require registration, unless otherwise noted. TUESDAY, JULY 5 Mike Wells on Elder Law Basics 1:30 to 2:30 pm Wake Forest Baptist Health Medical Plaza-Country Club, 4610 Country Club Road, Winston-Salem SATURDAY, JULY 9 Healthy Cookout Favorites 1 to 2:30 pm Brenner FIT in the William G. White Jr. Family YMCA, 775 West End Blvd., Winston-Salem MONDAY, JULY 11 Oh, My Hips and Knees! \ 6 to 7 pm Wake Forest Baptist Health Davie Medical Center, Cardiac Classroom, Plaza 1, Highway 801 N, I-40 (Exit 180), Bermuda Run MONDAY, JULY 18 Delicious Dishes for Healthy Bones 6 to 7:30 pm Wake Forest Baptist Health Medical Plaza-Country Club, 4610 Country Club Road, Winston-Salem TUESDAY, JULY 19 Yoga \ Noon to 1 pm Sunrise Yoga Studio, 1000 Meadowbrook Drive, Suite 1, Clemmons THURSDAY, JULY 21 Safe Sitter Basic* \ 8 am to 3 pm Wake Forest Baptist Health Davie Medical Center, Cardiac Classroom, Plaza 1, Highway 801 N, I-40 (Exit 180), Bermuda Run SUNDAYS, JULY 3, P