Mount Dora High Seeks Community's help with stadium project

It’s anything but just another year for Mount Dora High School.  2021  marks its 100-Year Anniversary, and one of the ways the school is marking the milestone is with a community fundraiser to improve its deteriorated stadium and peripheral athletic facilities. 

The school’s principal, Marlene Straughan, along with an energized group of parents, organized a fundraiser for renovating  the two aging concession stands and restrooms which are in severe disrepair, as well as adding a press box and sound system.  The group also intends to address problems with the Hurricane locker rooms and PAC House. 

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The Hurricane’s football field has been plagued with drainage issues because of the natural spring that flows underneath.  Currently, any period of heavy rain renders the field unsafe for sports until it has had an appropriate number of days to dry out.  Lake County Schools has pledged $250,000 toward fixing the drainage and re-sodding the approximately 97,000 square- foot field.   The drainage work is set to begin in February, 2022.  

The goal is to raise $2 million to include design, construction, potential overruns and an endowment for future maintenance of the almost 50-year old stadium and auxiliary structures.  The top priorities are the concession stands, restrooms and press box, however if the entire fundraising goal is reached, the secondary improvements can be done, as well as the endowment.

Families and businesses can purchase engraved bricks that will be installed on the home side of the stadium for $100 to $250 depending on the size.  Donors of $1000 or more will receive an appreciation plaque on the building, and naming rights for both the field and stadium are separately being offered for donations of $250,000 or more.  All donations are being handled through Mount Dora Community Trust and can be made online here.   Logistics and bids will be handled by Lake County Schools. 

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