Exciting things are happening at Atwood Stadium! As many of you know, Kettering University took over ownership of the stadium back in 2013, and has steadily been working on making improvements to it since then.
Patrick Hayes, the Director of University Communications, sums it up best:
“Now, thanks to community-wide support from many individuals and organizations and culminating with a $1.75 million grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Atwood Stadium’s future as a viable, unique community gathering space in the heart of Flint is more secure. New turf, along with a separate gift from Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc. in support of Flint Community Schools and Powers Catholic High School, will allow varsity high school to return to Atwood in the fall.”
Some of the improvements already being seen include ice skating in winter, intramural sports, and Relay for Life. Some of the not-so-visible improvements include repairs to masonry, restrooms, concessions, lighting, signage, and upgrades to the locker rooms.
Kettering University President Dr. Robert K. McMahan has great ambitions when it comes to our area, and the improvements at Atwood Stadium are only part of that. He noted that after Atwood receives their many improvements, we’ll have “one of the finest football, soccer, and lacrosse playing surfaces anywhere in Michigan and the Midwest.” He went on to add that “This has been a truly collaborative community effort. The entire community benefits from Atwood’s restoration, and the stadium’s future is bright due to the collaboration of a diverse group of individuals and organizations all committed to a single worthy cause — creating a thriving city of Flint.”
Jessica Sanchez