BELMONT — Union Local Middle School’s backyard is expected to receive a makeover starting this summer, as a new community and recreation outdoor zone project is underway.

ULMS is fundraising for the planned outdoor zone. Dubbed a community recreation and education zone, it will be situated outside the back of the school in an empty field that teacher Robin Sefsick described as underdeveloped.

“It’s just kind of, right now, a very muddy mess,” she said. “It’s an area that we’d like to develop into a recreational area so that our students can access it during the school day, definitely during lunch time.”

The outdoor zone is expected to contain two full-size basketball courts, which could be used for pickleball as well, a volleyball structure and an area for a science, technology, engineering and math activities outside the classroom. Organizers would also like to integrate cornhole and ping pong tables into the area, too.

The idea for the outdoor STEM classroom comes from the fact that the school has a program that involves a lot of drone use and other technology.

“We are seeking some grant money for the class, the outdoor STEM classroom, because that’s a very big thing. We are trying to promote STEM education,” Sefsick said. “We have a big program here. … I think that would benefit our students, to be able to take their drones out and do that kind of activity out there.”

This recreation and education zone is not only for the school but for the community as well, Sefsick emphasized.

“After school hours, we’d like to open it up and make our building and our school a hub for community people to come,” she said. “Whether it’s playing pickleball or using any of the other equipment or games that are out there, just to make it a hub for our community.”

The projected cost of the project is $200,000, so the school would like the community’s help in bringing it to life.

The school has approached local businesses and received some money from donations. It has also written grant applications that are pending and doing additional fundraising.

The first fundraiser the school did was teaming up with Honda Direct Line in St. Clairsville to raffle off a 2025 Honda Pioneer 700, which is a side-by-side. The school sold nearly all of its 1,000 tickets, and Sefsick said she and her team appreciate the community’s help. The Ohio Lottery Pick 3 will draw the raffle winner May 2.

Another fundraiser will be a spaghetti dinner from noon to 4 p.m. April 27 at Route 40 Lumberjaxe, where there will be an auction and free axe throwing. Entry costs $10 a ticket, and all proceeds will go to the recreation and educational zone project.

The next fundraiser is kicking off next week, as the school teamed up with Doan Ford to raffle off a brand new 2024 Ford F-150 XLT. People can purchase tickets at Doan Ford in Belmont, 66870 Belmont-Morristown Road. Students will be selling tickets as well. Organizers plan to sell 3,000 tickets for the raffle and will draw that live on Union Local’s Facebook page from Doan Ford to determine the winner.

The community can also offer monetary donations by sending them in the mail to Union Local School District, 66779 Belmont-Morristown Road, in Sefsick’s name.

Donors can also reach out to the school via email or stop by the school.

Organizers are hoping to get the project started this summer with a completion date in fall of 2026 or spring of 2027. Sefsick said the sooner the school can get the funds for the development the better, because she doesn’t want to drag out the project.

In addition to monetary donations, the school is also looking for community members and alumni who could help with excavating or donating equipment or time to help with construction.

Organizers met with the school’s architect, making plans and getting ideas for fundraising, and the architect made some sketches for them.

Pickleball is a popular sport right now, Sefsick said, and has exploded in the area, but there are limited places to play the game. This project will allow the Union Local community to play the sport at home instead of traveling outside the district. People will also be able to play basketball or volleyball in their home space.

Sefsick noted that being outside and getting fresh air has been proven through studies to boost cognitive and academic achievement.

“The whole goal is to get our students up and moving and to be healthier,” Sefsick said. “Having them sit in a classroom for seven hours a day and be sedentary isn’t good. Our middle school students need release time, and the area that we’re looking at right now is just muddy. We want to try to achieve something where they can be outside year-round.”