PLEASANT HILL, Calif. — Several high school football players and their families are upset after a press box they say parents spent months planning and building was torn down just days before the start of the football season.
The structure at College Park High School was constructed in April during spring break. Parents said they had repeatedly asked the school district to build a press box but felt their requests had gone unanswered for years.
Rather than continue waiting, parents decided to take matters into their own hands.
One parent who was present during construction described the finished structure as a significant upgrade for the football field.
“I was here for the construction of it. I actually went inside the booth once it was built. It had marble countertops. It had a place for the visiting team, it had a place for the home team to do stats. It had a place for the announcer and scorekeepers,” the parent said.
For families who had wanted a dedicated space for football operations, the press box appeared to be ready to serve its purpose.
But that changed Wednesday.
District Tears Down Structure Before Season Starts
With the first game only two days away, the school district removed the press box.
Football players were practicing for their season opener as they watched the structure being dismantled.
For some students, seeing the press box disappear was about more than losing a building. It felt like something their families had worked hard to create was suddenly being taken away.
College Park football player Braylen Coleman said the demolition affected the team emotionally.
“They tore it down and kind of made our school and our players a little sad. I didn’t like how it made us feel,” Coleman said.
The timing made the situation particularly frustrating for players and parents who had been looking forward to using the facility during the season.
Superintendent Says District Had No Choice
School Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark said the district was required to remove the structure because it had not gone through the necessary approval process.
According to Clark, structures measuring more than 6 feet high must be approved by the Division of the State Architect. He said that process can take at least a year.
“It wasn’t approved by the State Architecture, it wasn’t approved by our contractor, it wasn’t approved by our maintenance folks,” Clark said.
The superintendent also pointed to safety and liability concerns.
“If it were to come down during an earthquake or if it were to catch fire then the liability is off the charts,” Clark said.
From the district’s perspective, allowing the structure to remain could have created significant safety and legal problems, even if the parents’ intentions were positive.
Parents Want a Compromise Instead of Demolition
Parents say they understand that some rules and procedures were not followed.
However, they remain frustrated that the situation ended with the press box being demolished rather than the district working with them toward a solution.
They now want to start the official process and determine what needs to happen for a permanent structure to eventually be approved.
Parent Carolyn Babcock said the focus should now be on opening communication between families and the district.
“Let’s get this process going. Let’s start doing what we need to do. Let’s sit down and have a conversation,” Babcock said.
Parents appear willing to follow the required procedures if doing so means the school can eventually have the press box the football program has wanted.
Football Season Begins Without Press Box
For now, players are turning their attention back to the field.
The team’s first game is scheduled for Friday, leaving little time for the controversy to overshadow the start of the season.
The demolished structure may be gone, but parents and students hope the dispute can ultimately lead to an approved, permanent press box.
For the families involved, the goal is no longer simply to preserve what they built during spring break. They want to see the district and community work together to get the project done properly.
As the football season begins, players are hoping the next press box they see at College Park High School will be one that has gone through every required approval—and will remain standing for years to come.
What do you think—should the district have worked with parents on a compromise instead of tearing the press box down? Share your thoughts in the comments.
