CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – After a fire all but destroyed the concessions stand at Kenwood High School last year, and sinkhole damage shut down the track, repairs and renovation have been going on for over a year. Fortunately, they should be complete just in time for the first home football game for the Kenwood Knights.
On July 11, 2023, the CMCSS operations team notified the school system of a fire that had broken out in the Kenwood High concession stand located under the home bleachers. Due to the block wall construction, the fire was contained and put itself out, but it was uncertain when the fire broke out.
Clarksville Fire Rescue determined it was an electrical fire from a drink cooler. “The exhaust from the front drink cooler overheated and likely sparked, causing the fire,” Bryan Lopp, CMCSS Facilities Engineering manager, said in an email to the school system.
Pending the repairs of the home side concession stand, the visitor’s football concession was set up to serve during stadium activities.
Only months earlier, in April 2023, the track at Kenwood was determined to be in critical item in need of improvements. A month later, a small depression enlarged due to the heavy rains, and the track was declared off limits to students.
CMCSS spokesman Anthony Johnson told Clarksville Now that emergency sinkhole repairs were completed before the start of the 2023-24 school year to allow use of the field and stadium for football, and using the concession stand on the visitor side.
Johnson said that during last football season, the part of the track affected by the sinkhole was isolated, but the rest of the track was still accessible as part of the sidelines.
Delays in timeline
Johnson said there was a delay and miscommunication in KHS providing a list of equipment to the CMCSS Safety and Health Department to reimburse through the claim. “After looking into this, a list was provided by the school this past April, but it was not sent to the correct contact for claim reimbursement,” Johnson said.
The usual process is for the school to order and then be reimbursed by the Safety and Health Department, according to Johnson. However, with a change in leadership and to expedite this process, the Safety and Health Department ordered the requested equipment be delivered between Aug. 2-7.
For the track, Johnson said the school is just waiting on the surface to finish curing. If the weather continues to cooperate, it should be ready for the first home game.
“Overall, the $2,096,000 in capital projects at Kenwood High School should all be completed by early fall.”
If all goes according to plan, Kenwood will host their first home game on Aug. 23 against Franklin Road Academy. However, in the case of an unforeseen delay or issue interfering with the Aug. 23 game, CMCSS has coordinated with Kenwood and Northwest to host the game at Northwest High.
The school system is actively working with the schools on options for concession sales for the first home game if it is moved to NWHS. If something can’t be worked out, Johnson said he will work CMC Education Foundation and donors to raise private dollars to offset the cost of lost sales.
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