Rend Lake College holds ground breaking for new sports complex. There will be 6.5 million dollars spent on renovations and improvements.
INA, Ill. (WSIL) -- Rend Lake College broke ground on their new Banterra Sports Complex facility in Ina on Wednesday.
Renovations are officially underway at Rend Lake College which is looking to include 5,688 square feet of additional space for a new entryway/lobby, concessions, a training room and new restrooms, Rend Lake College detailed.
There will be renovations to bring in new digital scoreboards, a scorers' bench, locker rooms, office space, along with other areas of improvement. These renovations will be in the existing 32,000 square foot facility already on the college campus.
“This renovation modernizes the original facility and raises the facilities� standards to equal that of our expectations for our outstanding student athletes,� RLC President Terry Wilkerson said.
“If you look at the history of Rend Lake College and what it has done for our area, it is important to that we continue to make the college a bigger and more important part of our community,� says President and CEO of Banterra Bank, Jeff May talking about the partnership between Rend Lake College and Banterra Bank. “We know Rend Lake College enrolls students in our [Banterra Bank] footprint and we want to support programs that recognize them and any enhancement to their campus experience.�
Owen Treat is an athlete at Rend Lake College. He said he excited to be one of the first athletes to experience the renovations.
"It makes me feel good," Treat said. "I like that they are updating the facilities for all of us players to have and incoming freshman next year. It's awesome. It gives us something to work for and know that we have new facilities coming in."
Rend Lake College shared the view on the new Banterra Sports Complex, stating the existing James "Hummer" Waugh Gymnasium, along with other new additions, will be included as part of the complex.
The James "Hummer" Waugh Gymnasium was named in 1995 after the long-time coach and educator retired with nearly five decades of combined athletic seasons under his belt. Athletic offices and locker rooms are included with the gym.
“This is one of most exciting days in recent memory for RLC,� says Tony Wielt, RLC Foundation chair and Board of Trustees member. “A groundbreaking of this significance will benefit several generations of athletes as well as the surrounding communities that use this facility.�
The expected completion date is August of 2025.
