Granite Shoals, MFISD partner to create youth sports fields

JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER

MARBLE FALLS — A unanimous vote will change the landscape of the city of Granite Shoals and enhance sports opportunities for its youngest residents. 

The Marble Falls Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to enter into a contract with the city of Granite Shoals to create a sports field or fields, depending on the partnerships city hall can build.

After the vote, City Manager Ken Nickel thanked the board.

“We have 600 children,” he said. “I don’t have a soccer field or a football field or a basketball court or a volleyball court. I think this is the first step for many things to do in Granite Shoals.”

MFISD has agreed to allow part of the vacant land that sits in front of the Highland Lakes Elementary School to be developed. The school district is responsible for the overall maintenance and upkeep of the land, while the city is responsible for maintenance and repair of of the water lines.

School officials said they and the city are working out the details regarding the size and scope of the project, but the space would allow for up to two youth-size soccer fields.

The deadline to create the field is Sept. 1, 2019. The work will be done when it causes the least amount of interruption to the school day.

School board president Rick Edwards said creating green play space will help in many ways, including preparing those students for the day they wear Marble Falls middle and high school uniforms and represent the community through Mustang sports.

“It’s an opportunity to have equitable facilities and access to those facilities,” he said.

Superintendent Chris Allen agreed, noting MFISD strives to teach students far more than what they can find in their classroom curriculum.

“We want to develop the academic, social and emotional infrastructure to be successful in life,” he said.

jfierro@thepicayune.com