Greenfield Debuts ‘The Nest,’ District’s First-Ever Gymnasium

In a historic moment for Greenfield Middle School, the community gathered on Friday morning to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the school’s long-awaited gymnasium. The state-of-the-art athletic facility is the first for the Greenfield Union School District (GFUSD).

“As a former student myself, we wanted a gym when I was there,” said GFUSD Superintendent Ramon Hendrix. “This is going to be a great addition to the Greenfield community.”

The district, which has been around since 1960, lacked an indoor gymnasium at any of its schools, forcing students to hold all physical education classes and sports activities outdoors. The students and staff have long felt this gap, particularly the school’s sports teams, which have never been able to host home games or practice in inclement weather.

“When it’s extremely hot, they can now be in the gymnasium and still participate in physical activity and not be limited,” said Greenfield Principal Sandy Welch. 

The new gymnasium, affectionately named The Nest to honor the school’s eagle mascot, is a 14,000-square-foot facility that can accommodate up to 1,900 people. The design, which earned recognition in the architectural community, is meant to look like an eagle in flight. The exterior features angular finishes mimicking feathers and wings, while a large eagle’s head sits in the corner. 

“It represents the eagle flying over us and protecting the nest,” Welch said. “It’s a unique design that we chose to represent who we are as Eagles.”

Inside, the gym boasts a main basketball court, two cross basketball courts, volleyball courts, an indoor-outdoor concession stand, a spacious outdoor patio for gatherings, a projector screen, and a state-of-the-art sound system.

Jesse Avalos, the contract manager overseeing the construction says the new gym is a long time coming. The journey first began in 2020, with designers meeting during the pandemic.  

“It takes a while from conception to completion,” Avalos said. “We met every week to make sure we didn’t miss anything. Construction is never perfect, but all in all, we kept moving.” 

The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured students from the school’s leadership program, musical performances by the school band, certifications and comments from local political leaders, and the unveiling of a championship banner celebrating the school’s first district football title. Welch says the students, especially the athletes, are excited to use the gym for the first time. 

“The look in their eyes when they saw the gym was priceless,” Welch said. “It goes back to that pride. The gym represents who we are here at Greenfield Middle, so we hope they take ownership of it.” 

Notably, the new gymnasium is a win for the students and the entire Greenfield community. Other schools in the district will be able to use the new facility for some of their practices and events. In addition to its primary use for PE and sports events, the gym will eventually be available for community activities, after-school programs, dances, graduation ceremonies, and more.

“We’re going to be using this as a part of our after-school program and our extended year program to provide some variation of club sports,” Hendrix said. “We want them to be involved in engaging activities, athletic activities, and co-curricular activities at our school sites.”

The completion of Greenfield Middle School’s new gymnasium is just the beginning. With plans for additional gyms at other district middle schools in the coming years, Greenfield Middle School sets the stage for a future where students have the resources they need to thrive.

“It’s going to be a wonderful facility for Greenfield for many, many years and a source of pride for the Greenfield community,” Hendrix said.