GAINESVILLE — The landscape will look a bit different at Lakeview Academy this fall.
The Lakeview football Twitter account released new construction photos of the new $3 million dollar football/soccer facility being built by Carroll Daniel Construction. The project is on track to be completed for the start of the 2020 home football schedule.
"In my time at Lakeview Academy, by far, this is the biggest thing," Lakeview Athletics Director Deuce Roark said. "The growth and development of the athletic program with this is incredible."
The stadium has been turned 90 degrees from its original location, which ran parallel to Limestone Parkway. Roark said the stadium complex went from a 1.4-acre footprint to a 4-acre footprint with the changes.
"We had to achieve maximum space," he said. "So, we needed the dirt and space to be created for that distance."
The new natural turf field will be surrounded by an 8-lane track and will have bleachers on both sides of the stadium.
"We went back and forth on it," Roark said about the natural turf field vs. artificial turf. "You know half of the high school fields are turf and a lot of purest still love the grass. So, we're going to invest in the grass and make it the best we can make it."
It'll also have two entrances -- one from the lower parking lot and the other beside the gym.
"We'll have two very elaborate, big entryways," Roark said. "I was very impressed. Brian Daniel of Carroll Daniel Construction, who's handling all this, has done a wonderful job of getting it the way it should be."
Roark said a new field house is in the future plans and has already been graded out behind the gym.
"It's a very exciting time," Roark said. "We're looking forward to the future. With the field itself, it's just an additive to Lakeview Academy as a whole. It's one of the things that we've hoped to do, and now it's come into fruition. Everybody is excited about it, not only the players themselves and the program but the school.
Coach (Lee) Shaw is a go-getter. I love being around him because of his positive energy and excitement for kids and football. He's a neat fellow ... very fortunate to have him."
Get ready fans..... this stadium is gonna be special!! You just might wanna come see what’s HAPPENING on a Friday Night in the fall at Lakeview Academy!! #believe pic.twitter.com/38ugkIXHpw
— Lakeview Football (@LAFootballLions) April 23, 2020
