New playing fields, equipment, turf and fancy stadium seats — all these upgrades have been introduced to Hoover High School within the last couple of years, but where does this money come from and how are we thanking and recognizing the people we receive it from?
The Legacy Project-Campaign came to be under NCCS Treasurer [then NCCS Director of Development and Special Projects] Mr. Tim Walker.

“It became apparent that we needed a masterplan for athletic facilities, and then we started to raise money and that’s what the legacy project came out of,” he said.

Since the project began, it has raised nearly $4 million. In recognition of those who gave, donors could buy pavers using their donation money to be placed at Memorial Stadium — and their legacy could live on. This area is called Legacy Landing [pictured above], an area full of recognition of generous community members.

This campaign also brought a rebirth to an old memorial that’s been at the Hoover High School stadium for years.

“In the middle [of Legacy Landing] is The World War II memorial that was at the south entrance of the stadium for a long time,” Walker said. “That’s how the stadium got its name, Memorial Stadium.”

Though the project is ongoing, its purpose has almost been completed.

“We have set a target to finish up the Legacy Campaign by 2025, but we are never going to turn away anyone who wants to donate,” Walker said.

While construction on parts of the project is still ongoing, we have been able to see the benefits of the football field, and just what these amazing donors have contributed for the good of North Canton City Schools and the community at-large.

In an interview posted to the North Canton Schools YouTube channel on November 2, 2021, Mr. Dave Cochenour, donor and president of Hoover Sideliners, expressed the importance of making Memorial Stadium more accessible.

“I sat in row two for 25 years because I couldn’t go up the steps,” he said. “There’s been so many times when people walking down the steps have grabbed onto my shoulder or fell into me so getting the stadium updated is going to be great.”

While it’s easy to get caught up in the new things given to us at Hoover, it’s important to remember the people who have given money, time, and effort into these projects. Class of 2022 alumna Lily Altman was interviewed her senior year in the same video posted to the YouTube channel about the impact the new facilities has had on her and her lacrosse team.

“It’s an amazing experience to go into a [brand new] locker room and get ready with my teammates and walk out to a beautiful field,” she said. “And to just know that our team means something and we are important to our community.”