Tuesday, June 24, 2025
79 ° Clear
79 ° Clear
On May 6, New Hope-Solebury School District cut a long, shiny gold ribbon, officially opening Asplundh Stadium–a new sports complex with impressive features–to students, staff, parents, and visitors of the school.
The ceremony featured speakers including school staff, state officials, and students, who addressed everything from its incorporation of school values to its function as a New Hope asset.
Dr. Richard Curtis, a teacher at New Hope-Solebury High School, opened the ceremony and functioned as the emcee throughout.
“It's just such a great honor to be here to help celebrate something that has been blood, sweat and tears and just so many hours of teamwork, dedication and leadership to lead us to this point right here,” Curtis said.
Senior high school student, Ben Stein, followed with a trumpeted rendition of the national anthem.
Dr. Charles Lentz, superintendent of New Hope-Solebury School District, spoke about the district’s recent accomplishments, including being recognized for their innovation and leadership in preparing students to be “future ready” by the as one of the in the country this year. “The Asplundh Stadium is an example of that commitment to our students,” Lentz said.
For nearly twenty years, the vision for a new stadium has been evolving. Research, planning, and fundraising efforts helped raise $1.2 million in philanthropic donations, supporting the estimated $3.5 million project.
Before the grand opening of the stadium, the school had to set up tents for concessions and use porta potties as restrooms. The new facility includes a fieldhouse equipped with a concession stand, restrooms, and team rooms, a gated enclosure, a “state of the art” scoreboard, an enhanced sound system, and the “Pop Pop Heath” press box, named after a beloved community member.
Lentz thanked an anonymous donor who supported the pressbox, the Robert Nagg Memorial Fund, the New Hope Helping, River House at Odette’s, the school district booster organizations, and the district’s operations team led by Scott Radaszkiewicz and George Arslanian. He also gave a special thanks to Carl Hj.Asplundh Jr., a major donor and philanthropist for whom the stadium is named. Asplundh Jr. recently passed away in March, and a brief moment of silence was held.
“It is because of the Asplundhs that our vision for this beautiful facility had the cornerstone support to become a reality. Mr. Asplundh saw the true impact that this facility would have, not only for our students today, but for many generations to come,” Lentz said. “Although Mr. Asplundh is not able to be here with us today to see the final completion of our vision, I am grateful that we had the opportunity to share the progress of our project with him along the way.”
Lentz then passed the microphone to Skylar High, a senior student at New Hope Solebury High School and president of the student government, who spoke about her experience playing sports in the district.
“I personally had run on this track for over 10 years–since second grade in our highly anticipated field day race, to now as a senior on the track team,” High said. “The difference in the quality of the equipment in the area is immensely beneficial, and we athletes feel so lucky to bring our best performances out because of it.”
Dr. P.J. Scarpello, the school’s athletic director, said this spring, visiting teams have frequently complemented the improvements to the stadium since they had last seen it. “Many of them came when we had porta potties and we did not have team rooms,” Scarpello said. “Our coaches and student athletes have been able to use the team rooms as learning spaces where they are able to draw plays, go in at half time, and meet outside of the element before going back out to play.”
According to Judy Finn, president of the New Hope Solebury School Board, many people have asked her why they chose to spend a large amount of money on the stadium. In response, Finn called attention to the values included in the district’s “profile of a graduate,” to which the stadium will incorporate.
“We recognize that education is not limited to classrooms and textbooks. It also extends onto the field, the court, and the track where our students cultivate resilience, teamwork, a positive culture, community and discipline,” Finn said. “This stadium represents an investment in these very beliefs, and above all, it is a place where they will grow, not just as athletes, but as leaders.”
Up next to the music stand rostrum was Mayor Laurence D. Keller, who began his speech with an anecdote of Carl Asplundh Jr. performing an act of kindness for him twenty years ago, in which Asplundh came to his house offering help after it was in danger of a gas leak.
During an interview, Keller spoke of the stadium being an asset to New Hope because they may be able to host tournaments with the updated stadium, drawing in more visitors and tourists. “You could imagine the parents coming, and you walk 500 yards and you’re in New Hope. You’re in this charming little town with a little river, a canal, a railroad train, a children’s museum, restaurants, shops and hotels,” Keller said. “You have a place to stay and you don’t have to drive, You’re on foot the whole time.”
Curtis rounded out the celebration by gathering people around the New Hope Solebury Lions mascot, who performed the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon while Curtis counted down from three.
“This stadium is officially open for greatness,” Curtis said.
