Cherry Hill High School East shows off new stadium

CHERRY HILL — A new stadium is a very visible part of a $363 million improvement package for the township's school system.

But the $2.6 million facility at Cherry Hill High School East originally wasn't on the district's to-do list, according to Miriam Stern, president of the township's school board.

"That was not part of the bond project," Stern noted at Tuesday's board meeting, held one day after the stadium's grand opening.

Instead, speakers at a town hall meeting made a compelling case for the upgrade.

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"A student came to the microphone and said, 'We want lights at the stadium at (East). Our other school (Cherry Hill West) has lights and we would like ours, too," recalled Stern.

"And parents came to the microphone and said the same thing," she continued.

Public proposed Cherry Hill East stadium

The speakers talked "about school spirit, how important having night-time events are, and how that brings a school community out."

Those positives were clear at the stadium celebration on Monday, when students, families and officials gathered to watch East's mascot, Crimson the Cougar, snip a ribbon at midfield with oversized scissors.

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Then, the school hosted its first game under the lights — a 10-8 victory for East's boys lacrosse team over West Deptford High School.

An enthusiastic crowd cheered from new bleachers that can hold more than 1,500 fans. Additional seating on the opposite side of the field can accommodate about 300 people.

The stadium previously could hold only about 500 fans.

The stadium will also host East's football, soccer, track and field hockey teams.

"I love the new stadium," enthused Camryn Connelly, who took part in opening ceremonies as a member of East's girls lacrosse team.

"It brings a lot of energy and a lot more excitement," the senior said. "It enhances the high school experience."

The upgrade's impact is "monumental," said district spokeswoman Barbara Wilson, who noted the football team previously had to play home games on Saturday mornings, and not Friday nights.

"We now have the ability to host games in the evenings, provide opportunities for night events at the high school, have school wide events with the significantly increased seating capacity, as well as a fully ADA accessible stadium," she said.

Township voters approved the improvement package in October 2022.

Supply-chain issues delayed the grand opening, which was once expected to occur with the kickoff of last year's football season, Wilson said.

Student-athletes will see an upgrade to East's locker facilities "in the latter parts of the referendum," she added.

The next phase of the improvement package is expected to be addition of all-purpose rooms to township's six elementary schools.

That work's due for completion by the summer of 2025.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Cherry Hill East stadium now holds more than 1,800 fans, up from 500