MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Bibb County School Board voted Thursday to approve a new synthetic turf athletic field at Thompson Stadium in east Macon.

Sports Turf Co. — the same company that provided the synthetic turf field at the Ed Defore Sports Complex football field and the existing synthetic track at Thompson Stadium — will install the field.

Upgrades will be paid for through 2021 Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) funds.

Board members also received updates and a conceptual plan for other upgrades at Thompson Stadium, which will also be paid for using 2021 ESPLOST funds.

Improvements will be performed in two phases.

Phase I will include the new turf field, as well as new video scoreboards, an LED sports lighting package, expanded seating capacity (1,500 additional), about 572 new parking spaces, a new high jump , new discus and shotput, new bus parking, new ticket booth, and upgrades to the existing fieldhouse.

Phase II will include a new concessions plaza and modifications of the existing plaza, additional parking and modifications to existing lots, new entry and exit lanes and new identification signage.

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