ADA renovations underway at Bristol’s Stone Castle
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) – Renovations are underway at the Stone Castle at Tennessee High School to make the space more ADA-accessible. However, more renovations are needed across Bristol Tennessee City Schools (BTCS).
The new renovations at the Stone Castle started last fall, and they’re making progress.
“There’s several components to this project, but the main one is definitely the accessibility,” Curt Rutherford, Chief Facilities Maintenance Officer for Bristol Tennessee City Schools, said. “Just so everyone that comes here is able to view the events and participate in the same way.”
Ramps are being constructed on each end of the visitor and home sides. More wheelchair-accessible seating will also be added.
Other general improvements are also being made, including structural repairs to the visitor side bleachers and new terrace seating on the home side.
Two ramps are currently under construction at the southside entrance to Tennessee High. These will lead to a pathway to the Stone Castle and also to the only elevator the high school has.
Annette Tudor, Director of Schools for BTCS, said most of their school buildings were built before ADA regulations were required.
“They were not built to accommodate handicapped access significantly,” Tudor said. “We have needs all across the district. How we tend to approach that is when we can and as we can, we meet the needs of renovating, when we can do that financially.”
“Haynesville Elementary, for instance, does not have an elevator and so if students need access, they’re really limited to one floor.”
Tudor said the biggest challenge with these ADA renovations is funding.
“We did present and work with the city on a joint study in order to prepare a plan for that,” Tudor said. “At this point, they can’t fund that, nor can we. Hopefully we’ll revisit that at some point and see if we can do some renovations.”
Both Rutherford and Tudor believe it’s important to provide equal access for everyone in their facilities.
“The Stone Castle is just an iconic structure in the community,” Rutherford said. “We just want to be able to make sure that everybody that lives here and visits here has the ability to come here and watch an event.”
“We want our students to be able to access all of our buildings just like their age-appropriate peers are able to access it,” Tudor said. “We need to provide for them the same we do for all students and staff as well. By renovating our buildings and changing the access we’re allowing students to be able to come into our buildings and make full use of their educational experience.”
Their goal is to have the Stone Castle renovations done by the fall semester.
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