Edward Waters University students and New Town residents have a new communal track, along with a stadium to watch NCAA football.EWU held a ribbon cutting for its new athletic facility on Thursday, featuring members of Jacksonville’s city government and former EWU President Nat Glover.
Glover secured investments for the college from the city in 2017, convincing City Council to put $4 million towards the stadium’s $4.3 million price tag. That same ordinance also set aside $4.4 million to renovate and refurbish Tiger Landing, EWU’s student housing.
Faison and Curry unveil the stadium alongside former EWU President, and former Jacksonville Sheriff Nathaniel Glover, who secured the investment from the city and serves as the stadium’s namesake. pic.twitter.com/ZgsJoxdPMk
— Raymon Troncoso (@RayTroncoso) August 26, 2021
For his efforts, the stadium was christened Nathaniel Glover Community Field and Stadium, where the Tigers will play soccer and football after joining the NCAA Division II conference last month. A track around the field will also be open to all students and community residents, to promote neighborhood health and wellness.
During the ceremony, Glover recalled first approaching Mayor Lenny Curry to ask for city investment into the private then-college, thinking he would have to choose between either student housing or the stadium.
Curry said he was proud to support both initiatives despite the $8.4 million price tag.
“This is about more than a football field, about more than a stadium. This is about investing in this prestigious institution, this historic community, and the betterment of our entire community,” Curry said. “To put it simply, whenever Waters succeeds, when the New Town neighborhood succeeds, Jacksonville succeeds. This stadium and the events that will happen here will bring more visitors, economic opportunities, it will be a vital resource for neighbors and improving their quality of life.”
EWU was the first historically black college to open in Florida, (As Edward Waters College) and now joins two other Jacksonville schools— Jacksonville University and University of North Florida— in the NCAA and is the only one to offer football.
Raymon Troncoso can be reached at rtroncoso@wjct.org, 904-358-6319 or on Twitter at @RayTroncoso.
