The gym at Forest Hills Central is going to be under construction and getting many new improvements throughout the next few years.
The first stage of construction was over the summer, where the old bleachers were removed, and new ones were installed in the main gym. There will also be improved lights that will be much better than the old ones that they have now, but this will most likely happen over the summer, as there is more time to make big improvements with fewer people in the building. Varsity basketball coach Jordan George has a strong opinion about what improvements will be most effective in the gym.
“I think eventually new lighting will be one of the most exciting things for the gym,” George said. “Our gym is on the darker side, so having some brighter lights will make the space feel newer and livelier.”
The auxiliary gym is also going to be getting a complete redesign with new bleachers and lights as well, which is set to happen during spring break of 2026.
Another main feature that is being added to the main gym is a new sound system. This is to replace the outdated equipment and to enhance the quality of the music and the commentary throughout the gym. Many people are very excited to see the additions to the gym and how different it will look.
“I think the additions are going to be great. I’m excited about all the construction around the school. I think it will modernize our building in general,” George said. “For the gym specifically, I’m excited about any changes or additions that are made, just because we spend so much time there during the winter months.”
The main improvements are to be made in the next 2-3 years, but they will be the most significant. There will be a vision board put up to replace the old scoreboard, but this will be after another vision board is installed at the stadium. The possible addition of a Jumbotron is a favorite amongst many people at FHC. Basketball player Lucas Casten is excited to see the much bigger improvements within the next few years.
“I am excited to see potentially a Jumbotron in the new arena,” Casten said.“ Not many schools have them, and it would be awesome to play under. I am excited to see how the new additions look on the court and how this will attract fans and possibly the players.”
Sophomore Cohen Stinson shares a similar opinion about getting a Jumbotron.
“I’m most excited to see the new Jumbotron and flooring,” Stinson said. “When we played Hudsonville last year, it was cool to see a Jumbotron in their arena, and I think it would look good in ours too.”
Another main change will be the floor.
The school is also hoping to repaint the main gym floor in a few years, as the last paint job was when the court was first installed in 2012. This is something Cohen Stinson is excited to see, as the old court definitely needs to be updated.
“With the old floor looking yellow, it will be nice to see a brand new floor and make everything look a lot better,” Stinson said.
It is still unknown if the auxiliary gym is going to get a whole new paint design or if they are thinking of only putting on a fresh coat of paint. The exact date for the additions is still undetermined, but many are excited to see the updated features in the gym. The changes in the gym will be very effective and well-liked among all of the students and staff, especially the athletes. Many are excited to not just see the changes in the gym, but the finished product of all the construction throughout the whole building. The construction won’t be fully complete for the next few years, but when it’s done, it will leave a positive effect on the future students here at FHC.
“Like all of the construction going on at the school, we’re unsure of the exact dates that the different aspects of construction will be done, but you can look for these changes over the next year or two,” George said.
