Improvements to the Jerry Simmons football stadium in Jennings will include plans for a new concession stand.

The Jeff Davis Parish School Board unanimously agreed Thursday to add a new concession stand as part of the $3.5 million stadium improvement project.

“We are designing several projects at the football stadium which will include a new press box, home team field house, concession stand, new fencing around the outside perimeter, LED lighting, a parking lot in the front and a ticket booth entrance,” Superintendent John Hall said.

A $700,000 field replacement, sidewalk improvement and irrigation project were completed earlier this year.

The projects are being funded by Ward II sales taxes, contingency funds for Jennings schools and the remaining construction funds for Ward II school projects.

School officials said this week they are working with architects to finalize plans for the project.

Bids could be let by this fall.

Construction of a new press box is the only project expected to interfere with the actual stands and games, according to Hall.

“The ticket booth, field house and concession stand can still be under construction during football season, but there are some projects that we are going to prioritize once we have the final plans,” he said.

Many of the improvements are being made to increase safety and accommodate fans attending the games, Hall said.

“The construction of the field house will provide an area where if there is severe weather or safety concerns all the students would be able to go to their field houses, so we would have students that would be able to take shelter immediately,” Hall said.

The new press box is also addressing safety issues for announcers and sports writers covering the games.

“The old press box, which is actually an old rail car, is becoming a safety issue for the people that are inside and on top of the box,” Hall said.

He said the new press box will also be a “beautiful” addition to the city’s landscape.

Other safety measures will be addressed with new lighting and fencing on the outside of the stadium.

Hall said relocating the concession stand to just outside the stadium will ease overcrowding by providing more space for workers and fans.

“We have been very limited in what we could do,” Hall said. “The concession remodeling came about due to the congestion because you had people leaving the stands to go to the concession stand while you had people walking to go to their seats. This will eliminate congestion in that small corridor by moving it to the outside.

Relocating the concession stand will also allow people to go get refreshments without missing the game. The new design will also allow the concession stand to be used for more fundraisers, he said.