The Importance of MDHS' Stadium to Mount Dora

The History of MDHS' Community Bowl

The stadium is a gathering place to show school school spirit. It brings the MDHS community together for assemblies, meets, games, events, and graduations. Our goal is that the future children of Mount Dora will be able to enjoy the stadium as much as those before them. Helping to renovate the stadium and bringing it up to current safety and aesthetic standards will allow the stadium to be enjoyed by many graduating classes to come.

The Community Bowl is Constructed

The stadium was designated in 1962 and took the place of what was once desolate wasteland in Mount Dora. Over the last 60 years, the stadium has served as an event space for the students, families, and alumni of Mount Dora High School.

track meets and sporting events are held at the bowl

The stadium serves student athletes, families, and students taking physical education classes. However, over time the bowl begins to deteriorate. While it receives some “quick fixes”, it never becomes fully remodeled leading to a slow decline in quality over decades of continued use.

As the field’s turf and asphalt track begin to receive more wear and tear, they no longer meet regulated standards. Mount Dora High School has no choice but to stop allowing track meets and football games at home, as they are a safety risk.

MDHS STADIUM IS THE HOME OF GRADUATION CEREMONIES

On one of the most special and important days of their lives, the Mount Dora High School stadium has seen countless graduates receive their diplomas. In the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, the outdoor graduation was particularly helpful in allowing students the ability to gather safely to celebrate their accomplishment.

the mdhs improvement fund project is started

As the quality of the bowl continues to deteriorate, the MDHS Stadium Committee coordinates with the Mount Dora Community Trust to create a 501(c)(3) tax deductible philanthropic project known as the “MDHS Stadium Improvement Fund” in order to raise donations to help revive the stadium.

The Lake County School Board is limited in their donating power to the project, so the committee seeks donations from parents, alumni and business owners in order to help give the stadium the renovation is deserves.

over $1,000,000 raised and FIRST PART OF phase 1 is completed

After the community banded together to raise over $1,000,000 through the MDHS Stadium Improvement Fund, Phase 1 of the project gets underway.

The football field, which once had unsafe turf that was not up to regulated standards, has been updated. The newly returfed field gives the football team and other student athletes the ability to play home games at the stadium once more.

The beautification of the stadium makes the community feel a sense of price in the bowl again. However, there is still work to be done for the remainder of Phase 1 and Phase 2.

the committee seeks donations to renovate the track & other amenities

The stadium has already been able to host home games for the 2022-2023 season, and the project is very successful.

The remainder of Phase 1 aims to improve the concession stand, bleachers, and press box. Phase 2 aims to resurface the track, removing the asphalt and rubberizing it for student safety.

The Stadium Improvement Committee still seeks donations to complete the project to restore the bowl and bring all amenities up to the standards the students deserve!