The Tipton Sports & Arts Complex is completed! Construction began in the fall of 2024, and the concession stand and bathrooms opened to the public at the start of the baseball season in May of 2025. The arts studio was finished in the spring of 2026, and the fitness center opened in May of 2026. This page chronicles the project from start to finish. Funding for the project was provided through the Houghton Family Foundation and administered by the Tipton Community Foundation. The City of Tipton owns and maintains the complex.
This photo was taken in September of 2024 before the old concession stand was demolished to make way for the new complex. Thousands of hamburgers, sodas, candies, and other goodies were served from the tiny stand for many years during baseball games, football games, and the Tipton Picnic. The bathroom facility, left of the concession stand, was built in more recent years.
Demolition of the old concession stand.
The concession stand is down to the metal beams.
After the concession stand was torn down, the bathroom building was moved to the north side of the city park, replacing the old bathroom in that location.
The bathroom is moved on a trailer.
The bathroom building is in its new location on the north side of the city park; workers replace the insulation and siding.
The bathroom is between the basketball court and the playground equipment.
With the concession stand and bathroom gone, workers started digging up the cement foundation.
The cement foundation is almost gone.
Looking east from the school parking lot where the Tipton Sports & Arts Complex will be built.
Looking southeast toward the baseball/football fields and grain elevators.
Looking southwest toward the Tipton Community School.
In late September, the forms for the floor went in. Looking west toward Tipton Catholic High School with its new CARDINALS mural.
In early October, the waterlines were put in place so the concrete floor can be poured. Looking east from the street in front of the schools.
TCS students watch as the cement foundation is poured.
TCS teacher Jenny Brummer said the TCS students love watching the progress and workers.
Forms are put in place for the sidewalk around the complex.
The cement slab is complete,
The sidewalk is poured and smoothed.
December 20, 2024: The beams are in place and workers start framing the new Tipton Sports & Arts Complex.
The west end of the building, looking east toward the grain elevators.
The east side of the building, looking toward the high school.
December 27, 2024: The metal roof is being installed.
Looking west toward the high school.
The west end of the building, and the bathroom doors have been installed.
January 2, 2025: South side of the building. Lots of progress in just two weeks!
An ice and snow storm in early January didn’t stop the construction work for very long.
January 2025: Workers begin installing the red siding.
February 5, 2025: South side of the building.
West end of the building.
Inside view from the west end, looking east.
Concession stand, looking southeast.
Concession stand, looking southwest.
Concession stand, looking northeast.
March 2025: View of the east end of the complex, showing proximity to the playground and baseball/football fields.
March 2025: South side of the complex, right across the street from Tipton Catholic High School.
Walk-up window of the concession stand and one of the three glass doors that can be raised when the concession stand is in use.
The west wall of the concession stand is cedar.
The interior view of the walk-up window to the concession stand. Cabinets and countertops will be installed in this corner.
View of the northeast corner of the concession stand. While the west wall is cedar, the other walls are red tin with cedar on the lower part.
April 2025: The cabinets and countertops have been installed in the new concession stand.
The walk-up window on the south where food can be purchased from outside the building.
Looking east in the concession stand. In this photo, the glass door on the south is raised and the east door is closed. A third door is located on the north side. These doors will be opened/closed depending on the outside temperature and wind direction when the concession stand is in use.
The Sports & Arts Complex was completed in time for the 2025 summer baseball season, May through July, and the Tipton Picnic on August 1 and 2 (pictured here). The east side features the concession stand and a covered eating area with patio.
Burgers are grilled on the north side of the building, just outside of the concession stand.
The west end houses the men’s and women’s bathrooms, sports storage room, and features a new sign designating the building as the Tipton Sports & Arts Complex.
The new concession stand in the complex is a popular spot with a spacious interior and plenty of seating.
A cement patio was poured August 29 on the north side of the complex.
A cement sidewalk was poured from the street to the complex on August 29.
The new sidewalk was soon utilized by Tipton Community School students on their way to recess at the park.
In October of 2025, a drop ceiling was installed in the Arts Studio of the Tipton Sports & Arts Complex.
The interior of the Arts Studio in October of 2025.
The Fitness Center opened in May of 2026. Memberships can be purchased through the City of Tipton, who owns and maintains the complex.
Commercial-grade exercise equipment was purchased with funds raised through grants and private donations.
The Fitness Center also includes an area with free weights.
The dance & arts studio was completed in the spring of 2026.
Another view of the dance & arts studio.