New bleachers in Dibart Gym

The DiBart Gymnasium will be undergoing major changes over the next few years according to Mr. Mike Beirao, the athletics director for the Cherry Hill School district.

The gym, which is home to East boys and girls basketball along with boys and girls volleyball, currently holds approximately 2,400 people. The entire bleachers will need to be replaced as they are not ADA compliant and do not feature key safety features like handrails and steps to walk up the bleachers. The bleachers have never been replaced in the school’s history which opened in 1966.

With the new safety features on the bleachers, it will reduce the amount of seating available. In order to maintain the capacity of 2,400 and being one of the largest gyms in South Jersey, Beirao siad the school will be implementing baseline bleachers on the far side of the gym. Additionally, the upper level bleachers on both sides will be extended farther to the full length of the sidelines.

In addition to the Dibart Gym, the East gym, which is home to boys and girls basketball freshman games, will be receiving permanent bleachers according to Beirao. The far upper level bleachers in the DiBart gym will be moved to the far side of the East gym. These same bleachers used to be in the East gym many years ago until they were removed.

While there is no specific timetable for the renovations, Beirao is confident that they will happen over the next couple years. He says that a basketball game in the DiBart gym is one of the best environments in South Jersey high school sports nad he believes that the renovations will make it even better.