New gathering spaces, upgraded fan amenities, community partnerships, and a hometown tailgate are ready to welcome the Huskie Pack this fall.
Fall sports practices are underway. Students will soon return to classrooms. And at Wallace Field, Hemlock Public School District has spent the summer preparing for something else that comes with the start of a new school year:
Game Day.
This fall, Huskie fans will discover an even better experience at Wallace Field, with newly enhanced gathering spaces designed to bring people together, create memories, and add another layer of energy to Friday nights in Hemlock.
The improvements were made possible through the generosity of several special community sponsors, along with a dedicated district team that spent the summer turning ideas into reality.
The sponsors behind the projects will be formally recognized in the coming days once their signage is installed.
For now, the district is offering the Huskie Pack a first look at what is waiting for them.
A New Look at the Southwest Pavilion
At the southwest corner of Wallace Field, a familiar gathering place has received a significant transformation thanks to a generous sponsorship that will be revealed in the coming weeks.
A new sidewalk now routes pedestrian traffic behind the Pavilion, helping keep foot traffic from interrupting views of the field. The fence line in front of the Pavilion has also been lowered, dramatically improving sightlines for fans.
But the upgrades did not stop there.
A new front patio and special seating area have been added, creating one of the most unique places in the stadium to watch a game. Overhead Edison-style lights complete the space, adding a warm atmosphere as afternoon turns into a Friday night under the lights.
And unlike some premium areas, the Pavilion is being designed with the entire Huskie Pack in mind.
The space will be open to all ticketed fans on a first-come, first-served basis.
There is no special invitation required.
There is also no guarantee of a seat.
With limited space and some of the best views and atmosphere in the stadium, district officials expect fans may discover another reason to arrive at Wallace Field early this season.
Meet the Party Pad
Travel to the other end of Wallace Field, between the Patrick Wolgast Fieldhouse and the Don Krueger Track, and fans will find something entirely different.
Welcome to the Party Pad.
Created through the generosity of another community sponsor whose identity will soon be unveiled, the Party Pad provides a dedicated hospitality space for special events, community groups, celebrations, and invited gatherings.
The area features a large overhead sunshade and a custom outdoor bar that can serve signature mocktails, dirty sodas, and other nonalcoholic specialty drinks during hosted events.
The goal is simple.
Create another place where people can gather, connect, celebrate, and experience everything that makes a night at Wallace Field about more than the final score.
“These projects are really about people,” said Dr. Don Killingbeck, Superintendent of Hemlock Public School District. “Yes, we want beautiful facilities. Yes, we want outstanding places for our students to compete. But what makes those spaces special is when they are filled with families, alumni, neighbors, students, and friends.”
Killingbeck added, “We continue to ask ourselves how we can make the experience better. How do we create places where someone comes for a football game and ends up reconnecting with an old friend, meeting a new family, or simply having a night they will remember? That is what this work is about. We are incredibly thankful for sponsors who believe in that vision and for a team that continues to pull the sled and make special things happen for the Huskie Pack.”
First Big Party | Hemlock's Hometown Tailgate
The community will not have to wait long to experience the new spaces.
On Thursday, August 27, from 4:00–7:00 p.m., the Richland Township Community Association will host Hemlock's Hometown Tailgate at Hemlock High School, centered around the Patrick Wolgast Fieldhouse and the new Party Pad.
Everyone is invited.
The celebration will bring together students, families, staff, neighbors, and community members as Hemlock kicks off both the new school year and another season of Huskie athletics.
The event will include family activities, food, music, games, and plenty of Huskie spirit before the excitement moves toward Wallace Field.
Board of Education President Matt Wesener believes improvements like these demonstrate what can happen when schools and communities work together.
“Wallace Field has become much more than an athletic facility. It is a community gathering place,” Wesener said. “Our students compete there, but our families, alumni, staff, and neighbors also come there to connect and celebrate together. These improvements are another investment in that experience.”
Wesener added, “We are especially grateful to the sponsors who stepped forward to help make these projects possible. Partnerships like these allow us to dream bigger and do more for our students and community. When great people are willing to work together, contribute, and pull the sled in the same direction, some pretty incredible things can happen.”
Built for the Huskie Pack
The latest improvements continue Hemlock Public School District's effort to make its athletic campus not simply a collection of competition venues, but a destination for students, families, alumni, and the greater community.
Wallace Field, the Don Krueger Track, Patrick Wolgast Fieldhouse, Legend Gymnasium, and other recent improvements have helped reshape the district's athletic campus and expand the ways it can serve students and community members.
The newest enhancements add something different thanks to our generous sponsors.
Hospitality.
Places to gather.
Places to talk.
Places to celebrate.
Places to belong.
And none of it happens without people.
Hemlock Public School District extends its deepest appreciation to the community partners whose generosity made these newest improvements possible. Their names and stories will be formally announced as the finishing touches and sponsor signage are completed.
The district also thanks its building and grounds team, maintenance staff, contractors, administrators, volunteers, and everyone who worked throughout the summer preparing facilities for another school year.
Because in Hemlock, the goal has never been simply to build something new.
It is to build something together.
Something that serves students.
Something that strengthens community.
Something that creates memories.
And something worthy of the Huskie Pack.
Fall is coming.
Wallace Field is ready.
And the Huskie Pack is about to have a whole new Game Day experience.
Hemlock's Hometown Tailgate
Thursday, August 27, 2026
4:00 – 7:00 pm
Hemlock High School Athletic Campus
Patrick Wolgast Fieldhouse + Party Pad
Hosted by the Richland Township Community Association
Everyone is invited. Come hungry. Come early. Bring the family. Bring your Huskie spirit.