MANCHESTER – Indoor cheer practice will be a bit cooler for the summer months. The Cheer Barn will get an HVAC system.
The barn is part of the Manchester Township Pop Warner Football Complex on Route 571, home to the Manchester Hawks youth football and cheerleading. According to the recreation department’s website, the barn is used for indoor cheering practice.
A $33,000 Community Development Block Grant and $300 from the general fund will pay for the project. The contract was awarded to Electrical Design and Construction Corp., also known as EDC Electric, based in Shrewsbury.
The original language adopted back in November called for EDC Electric to install a gas unit heater, exhaust fans and all electrical and mechanical work “required for an HVAC system” for the same amount of money. However, the township’s purchasing agent asked the council to amend and adopt the change in language to say “submit a proposal for an HVAC system” instead, which council did in December.
Department of Public Works director Al Yodakis said the system is entirely new.
“This will be ventilation and electric for heating system in the future,” he said.
There was no immediate timeframe given for the work to begin.
According to the township, the complex used to be a wooded parcel of 40 acres, but is now a full-sized football field, practice field, concessions, playground and parking for 100 cars. The complex was completed back in 2002. The township owns the barn.
Mayor Kenneth Palmer said current recreation department head Tracey Lynch purchased the structure when she was Pop Warner president and “got a great deal on it.” He was unsure how long ago it was purchased; Lynch could not be reached by press time.
“Refurbishing the cheer barn will be a huge benefit to AYF and the township. We now have a place to run programs,” Palmer said. “It’s definitely a win for the entire town.”
