POINT PLEASANT — With the month of August already here, the countdown is officially on for the opening of the new Point Pleasant Junior Senior High School Athletic Complex.

The state-of-the-art facility will host a football field as well as baseball and softball fields, tennis and basketball courts, a track, concession stands, restrooms and locker rooms. The first phase of construction will consist of the football field, track, bleachers, lighting and pressbox. Phase II will see construction of the field house, which will have concession stands, restrooms, locker rooms and tennis courts.

Construction of the facility began in April. Currently, the football field is complete and both bleachers and the pressbox have been installed. The field will be ready and open just in time for Point Pleasant High School’s first home football game of the season, which is slated for Friday, Aug. 28 against Tug Valley. According to Troy Krebs, athletic complex committee member, several activities are being planned for the first game at the new facility.

“For the first game we are inviting all donors back and we plan to do a ribbon cutting and dedication... We want all who donated to be a part of this,” Krebs said, adding that members of the athletic complex committee and the Mason County Board of Education will be present.

In addition, Krebs said that the athletic complex committee is planning to do something special for each home game, such as recognize the school’s past state champion sports teams.

Those who purchased commemorative bricks, which were recently sold by the athletic complex committee as a fundraising effort, will have the opportunity to view their brick at the first home football game. The bricks make up the entrance of the facility. Denny Bellamy, athletic complex committee member, described the commemorative bricks as a modern day Tu-Endie-Wei monument that future generations will see.

“It is important that future generations know during this time period in our country with the economy, people who lived here still invested in our youth and the future of our kids,” Bellamy said.

Parking passes are being sold for the complex as well. The passes are $30 per space, and are available for purchase at the tourism center and Ohio Valley Bank.

Mario Liberatore, athletic complex committee member, said that the stadium will not only be used for PPJSH, but also will be available to the community as well as Wahama High School and Hannan High School. In addition, the complex will be used to host playoff games.

“(The complex) is not only for your alma mater but it’s your hometown,” Bellamy said.

The committee is currently seeking additional funding for the facility. According to Liberatore, donations can be made in a lump sum or made in monthly/annual payments.

For more information, contact any member of the athletic complex committee. Committee members include Krebs, Bellamy, Liberatore, Ron Durst, Lisa Johnson and Johnny Roach.