Plano ISD to spend $4.7 million on Clark Stadium parking lot repairs

Plano ISD will spend roughly $5 million on repaving the John Clark Stadium parking lot to repair potholes and improve safety, following unanimous approval from the school board at a May 20 School Board meeting.

In a nutshell

The parking lot has received few improvements since the stadium completed construction in 1977, Deputy Superintendent for Business and Employee Services Johnny Hill said during the meeting. There are currently several potholes scattered through Clark Stadium’s parking lot.

“It’s more than just a crater you may drive into or lose a hubcap,” PISD Superintendent Dr. Theresa Williams said at the meeting. “This is really a safety issue... There’s all sorts of safety hazards for our students, our staff and for people that are coming in.”

Some background

The lot repavement, funded by interest PISD earned from the 2016 bond program, would use asphalt and require maintenance every six to eight years, Hill said.

District voters previously rejected a $19 million bond proposal in 2022 that would have provided funds to repave the parking lot, among other stadium improvements.

“This was a $19 million proposal that failed on the 2022 bond program,” trustee Lauren Tyra said. “The team has found very creative ways... to use interest to not only pave the parking lot stadium, but also provide lighting for that stadium.”