SILVER LAKE (KSNT) – Silver Lake recently unveiled a new athletic training facility to kick off the 2026 school year.
According to officials, the more than $4 million facility, also dubbed the “Lake House,” provides students with a larger and more modern training space than the school’s previous athletic areas. Silver Lake Superintendent Mark Farrar said the facility has already generated excitement amongst its students and community members.
“It’s fun to watch. Last week we had our grand opening and our first home football game against Roseville, and it was just an awesome addition to that game and just the community pride was shining very brightly,” Farrar said.
Silver Lake, located west of Topeka, has a population of roughly 1,300 residents, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau data. Graduating classes typically range from 50 to 70 students, and the high school football team competes in Class 2A. School leaders said the project was funded through a combination of leftover bond dollars and community fundraising efforts.
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“We want our kids to be active and engaged with athletics and other activities. And, this fit the bill. This project was funded multiple ways through additional bond dollars that were left over,” Farrar said. “But, it was a lot. A large part of it was fundraising from our community. So, it was a complete joint effort.”
The facility is open to all students and includes batting practice areas, weights, cycling machines and even motivational messages displayed throughout the gym. Community members can also apply for memberships to use the facility. Members receive a key fob and can access the amenities outside of student-use hours.
Farrar said the close-knit nature of the Silver Lake community makes the arrangement possible.
“That’s where Silver Lake is unique. They are committed and prideful on this community and they’re very proud of their schools,” Farrar said. “And there’s just a lot of trust in and both ways with our community and our schools.”
School officials said the facility is designed to support student athletic development while also serving as a resource for the broader community.
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