A sports complex for the William Penn School District, years in the planning, finally saw reality Tuesday when ground was broken at Kerr Field in Yeadon, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times.

“I’m crying a little bit because you guys are going to spoil us,” said Penn Wood High School track coach Lenny Jordan.

The $14.6 million complex includes a sports stadium with a turf field, track, lighting, bleacher seating, and concession stands.

The football field should be ready in September and the track should be completed by spring 2024.

A $7 million Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant helped make the complex possible.

Jordan said students had never complained but that Penn Wood was one of only a few schools in the state still running on dirt.

Football coach Troy Brooks said the new complex would keep student-athletes in the district instead of going to other schools with better facilities.

 Athletic Director Rap Curry said he was glad to see money invested in the students.

“I find a lot of times in underfunded communities we don’t see anything like this,” Curry said. “If you’re going to develop your community, you have to make investments.”

Read more about the new sports complex at the Daily Times.