Over the summer, Tenafly High School renovated its main gymnasium, upgrading the bleachers, flooring, and overall design.
The project was funded through the referendum, which was passed on October 2, 2024. The main gym is home to the Tenafly basketball, volleyball, and wrestling teams, and also hosts pep rallies, Olympics, assemblies, and community tournaments.
“The gym floor was the original 1972 wood, and each time you sand it, you lose a little bit of the wood, and it’d gotten to the point where we could not sand it again. So, it needed to be replaced. So the wood itself is brand new,” Principal Jim Morrison said. “We consulted a lot of different people on the design, and I really like the way it came out. We also have brand new bleachers, which are really sturdy. The bleachers we had before kept cracking. They were somewhat cheaper plastic. And eventually, we’re going to get new scoreboards in part thanks to the Class of 2025, who donated to help us get those and hopefully a new sound system. So, I’m really impressed how it came out.”
The updated gym will be the first major upgrade in THS funded from the referendum money. New wall pads and banners will be installed in the upcoming week, with additional upgrades planned in the near future.
For many Tenafly students, the gym is the heart of school spirit where the entire school gathers to cheer on teams and celebrate milestones. The renovation isn’t just about new floors and bleachers; it’s about creating a cleaner, more welcoming space that reflects Tenafly’s strong tradition of athletics and school pride.
“I’m really excited to play in the new gym because everything’s gonna be new and the bleachers won’t be falling apart,” Brielle Moon (’26), a player on the THS Volleyball team, said. “I’m excited to play on the courts because typically, the floors aren’t as grippy and very dusty. I’m also excited to see what it’s going to look like when it’s fully done, because I know the padding isn’t fully up yet.”
Athletic Director Joe Carollo also expressed his satisfaction with the upgrades.
“[I’m] really happy with the gym,” Carollo said. “Capacity-wise, we have one of the best gyms in Bergen County. That’s why we host our county basketball tournament here. We can host almost a thousand people in that gym, which makes it one of the biggest … But it grew old. Even the bleachers were in desperate need of repair, the floor was at its last sanding, and the gym itself had a very 1980s look to it.. We also have new banners [and wall pads] coming in,” he added. “We think it’s going to be one of the best gyms in Bergen County, and it should be because it’s one of the largest gyms, and I’m going to be very honest with you—our boys basketball and girls basketball are generally pretty successful.”
The newly renovated gym will hopefully open to students and staff in the upcoming week. The referendum continues to bring big changes to Tenafly Public Schools, with more upgrades still to come.
