Photo by David Leong.
A new gymnasium is under construction at Chelsea High School.
Several capital improvement projects are underway for schools in the U.S. 280 corridor, including updated soccer turf at Oak Mountain High School and a new auxiliary gym at Chelsea High School.
These projects will expand opportunities at both schools by allowing youth recreational leagues to use the spaces, and they will promote a partnership between Shelby County Schools and local communities.
“We love any opportunity we have as a school district to partner with our communities,” said Barbara Snyder, facilities coordinator for Shelby County Schools. “In these cases, it is a win-win for everyone.”
CHELSEA HIGH SCHOOL
Photos by David Leong.
A new gymnasium is under construction at Chelsea High School.
Construction is underway at Chelsea High School on a new auxiliary gym and concession area adjacent to the school’s existing gymnasium.
This project, totaling $8.5 million, was a joint effort between the city of Chelsea and the Shelby County Board of Education.
The project was a longtime goal of former Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer and the Chelsea City Council.
“This new gym has been a dream of mine since I took office in 2016,” Picklesimer said. “For many years, Chelsea High School was the only high school around that did not have a second gymnasium.”
Picklesimer said advancing the capital improvement project was important because many students had to compete for time slots at the existing gym, which lacked enough space for everyone.
Photos by David Leong.
A new gymnasium is under construction at Chelsea High School.
“What we were having was athletes on the various teams showing up for practice at 5 a.m. because there wasn’t enough space for them to all practice during a school day,” Picklesimer said. “We as a council had an opportunity to come up where we could focus on a big project, and we worked with [Superintendent Lewis] Brooks and [Assistant Superintendent of Operations] David Calhoun, and we were able to get the second gym into the capital program.”
Construction started in October 2025 and is slightly behind schedule with an expected completion date of April or May 2027.
The Board of Education is covering the cost of the architectural and engineering fees, and the city of Chelsea is funding the remainder of the project.
Photos by David Leong.
A new gymnasium under construction at Chelsea High School on Fri., Sept. 4, 2026 in Chelsea, AL. Photo by David Leong.
Picklesimer, who worked on the project for many years during his administration, said it is a big deal to him.
“This would be something I would consider a generational landmark for my second administration,” Picklesimer said. “Thankfully the coaches and athletic director were all so supportive, and [Principal Brandon] Turner was very helpful. It was just something that was sorely needed. It was expensive, but most generational decisions are.”
Picklesimer said he has grandchildren who will utilize the space and is thankful there will be options for indoor practices if something has to be moved indoors due to weather.
“Every sport will touch that gym, and we will find it greatly utilized,” Picklesimer said. “I couldn’t be more thrilled about it.”
OAK MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL
Photos by David Leong.
Soccer field under construction at Oak Mountain High School.
Another project, which was slated for completion by the end of September, is the installation of synthetic turf at Oak Mountain High School’s soccer facilities.
The turf will require less daily maintenance. The fields are used by students and multiple groups, including local recreational leagues.
“We love the partners we have through youth and rec sports,” Oak Mountain High School Athletic Director Ryan Brewer said. “We want the fields used as much as they can be used, but this allows us to spend less time making sure the fields are ready before a game, which is a good thing for everyone.”
Three fields will receive the new turf. The fields see heavy daily use for youth soccer, lacrosse and football in the Oak Mountain zone.
Photos by David Leong.
Softball field under construction at Oak Mountain High School.
The baseball and softball fields will also receive new turf. The cost to turf all three fields will be $2.8 million.
Snyder said the partnership between the high school and local recreational youth leagues is important because many of the kids who play in the youth leagues eventually come to play for the schools.
As interest in youth sports grew, use of the fields increased, as did the maintenance needed to prepare them for high school games.
“In the past, if it rained a bunch, you couldn’t really play on the fields, but the new turf will allow you to play whenever as long as it isn’t lightning,” Brewer said. “Just by having the turf it allows a lot more usage than a traditional grass field, and we are really excited about being able to have the opportunity to have the turf installed.”
While the soccer fields are close to completion, construction on the softball and baseball fields had just started at the time of publication.
INVERNESS ELEMENTARY
A third capital improvement project planned this school year for the U.S. 280 corridor is $1.5 million in upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems at Inverness Elementary, according to the five-year capital plan approved by the Shelby County Board of Education in August.
