Galena Park ISD breaks ground on new multi-purpose facility at North Shore HS

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- With construction equipment serving as the backdrop, the Galena Park Independent School District held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new $29.5 million multi-purpose facility at North Shore High School.

"This indoor facility represents so much more than just the building; it's an investment in the future of our young people," GPISD Superintendent Dr. John Moore said. "This is a facility that is for you and the future Mustangs who will follow in your footsteps," head football coach Willie Gaston added.

From the renderings, the place is going to be beautiful inside and out. It'll be safe and spacious, out of the Texas heat, for all types of activities to prepare for their competitions.

"The better facilities we have to offer a variety of things to our children, the better off our community is, and it keeps our community vibrant." Dr. Moore said.

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"Most people equate the heat problems to football because that's what you hear, but the heat problem is for everybody, you know. "I got a dance team that has heat problems. Some of my band members have heat problems. I got cross country kids that have heat problems, you know, so that is the single biggest reason for the facility."

He went on to say that it provides a safe place to practice activities out of public view and would help the community in the event of a weather disaster.

"We got a place to go here on the east side," he said.

Head football coach Willie Gaston traded in his whistle for a shuffle and a hard hat for the ceremony.

"It's going to be state-of-the-art, one of a kind in the Houston area," he said.

This facility will be shared- but for his program, plenty of postives "You're going to have a nice weight room, a new weight room that's going to be 8000 square feet," Coach Gaston said. "You're going to have an indoor football field, 120 yards, with about 10 or 15 yards on each side, so it's going to be a safe space for the band to get their equipment in. We'll turn the old weight room into a meeting room, make the locker rooms bigger, and make the coaches' office nicer. So we're all excited to see it. We can't wait to get in there."

Construction is underway, and it's expected to take up to 18 months for completion.