Post by Bornthrilla on Oct 22, 2008 10:37:28 GMT -5
College will save J. C. Price School
Wednesday, October 22
(updated 5:37 am)
By Ryan Seals
Staff Writer
GREENSBORO - Greensboro College will preserve the historic J.C. Price School and offer scholarships to students in Warnersville as part of its plan to build a multi-million-dollar athletics park near the community.
College officials held a news conference Tuesday to unveil a plan for its nearly 30-acre Greensboro College Sports Park. Before that event, they notified Warnersville residents of the plan, which was created with the help of a community advisory council.
The meeting concluded a lengthy battle neighbors have had with Greensboro College about the preservation of Price school. Built in 1922, it is one of the last pre-integration schools for African Americans left standing in Greensboro.
"We have made extensive efforts to place the necessary activity spaces on this site with key attention to two things - the provision of the space needs of Greensboro College and a responsiveness to the most consistently heard comments of the Warnersville Community," said Susan Sessler, vice president for business at Greensboro College, who spoke on behalf of President Craven Williams.
The college will create a historical museum dedicated to the Warnersville community in collaboration with the Greensboro Historical Museum.
The building also will house athletics offices.
The school will be renamed the J.C. Price Lyceum, based on the Greek term for a hall used for public discourse and entertainment.
The college also will create J.C. Price Founders Scholarships, full-tuition grants for students who have lived in Warnersville for more than a year and qualify for admission to Greensboro College.
They will be valued at $90,000 over eight semesters.
"Greensboro College values and respects this historically important neighborhood and it is our desire to build up, enhance and honor its heritage," Williams said in a news release.
The complex also will include a new soccer field, separate fields for baseball and softball, a six-court indoor tennis complex, two multi-purpose fields, a cross-country training site and a greenway trail.
Because of neighbors' concerns, the complex will not include a football field. Instead, the school will renovate Pride Field, its current soccer stadium, for football, Sessler said.
Sessler said no date has been set to begin work on the project, which will cost an estimated $15 million. She said the school will begin a fund-raising campaign soon.
James Griffin, president of the Warnersville Historical and Beautification Society, said most of the 30 residents at Tuesday night's community meeting met the plan with open arms and little negative feedback.
Griffin, who served on the advisory council to the college, added, "I think it's a great plan that saves the school and gives Greensboro College what they need for their athletic facilities."
Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com
Wednesday, October 22
(updated 5:37 am)
By Ryan Seals
Staff Writer
GREENSBORO - Greensboro College will preserve the historic J.C. Price School and offer scholarships to students in Warnersville as part of its plan to build a multi-million-dollar athletics park near the community.
College officials held a news conference Tuesday to unveil a plan for its nearly 30-acre Greensboro College Sports Park. Before that event, they notified Warnersville residents of the plan, which was created with the help of a community advisory council.
The meeting concluded a lengthy battle neighbors have had with Greensboro College about the preservation of Price school. Built in 1922, it is one of the last pre-integration schools for African Americans left standing in Greensboro.
"We have made extensive efforts to place the necessary activity spaces on this site with key attention to two things - the provision of the space needs of Greensboro College and a responsiveness to the most consistently heard comments of the Warnersville Community," said Susan Sessler, vice president for business at Greensboro College, who spoke on behalf of President Craven Williams.
The college will create a historical museum dedicated to the Warnersville community in collaboration with the Greensboro Historical Museum.
The building also will house athletics offices.
The school will be renamed the J.C. Price Lyceum, based on the Greek term for a hall used for public discourse and entertainment.
The college also will create J.C. Price Founders Scholarships, full-tuition grants for students who have lived in Warnersville for more than a year and qualify for admission to Greensboro College.
They will be valued at $90,000 over eight semesters.
"Greensboro College values and respects this historically important neighborhood and it is our desire to build up, enhance and honor its heritage," Williams said in a news release.
The complex also will include a new soccer field, separate fields for baseball and softball, a six-court indoor tennis complex, two multi-purpose fields, a cross-country training site and a greenway trail.
Because of neighbors' concerns, the complex will not include a football field. Instead, the school will renovate Pride Field, its current soccer stadium, for football, Sessler said.
Sessler said no date has been set to begin work on the project, which will cost an estimated $15 million. She said the school will begin a fund-raising campaign soon.
James Griffin, president of the Warnersville Historical and Beautification Society, said most of the 30 residents at Tuesday night's community meeting met the plan with open arms and little negative feedback.
Griffin, who served on the advisory council to the college, added, "I think it's a great plan that saves the school and gives Greensboro College what they need for their athletic facilities."
Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com
