New Assabet football field renovation expected to be completed for this season

15 July 2017

The $2.4 million renovation of Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School’s football field, track and bleachers is expected to be finished in time for the school’s first football game in September.

Crews from Argus Construction put the final coat of asphalt on the new track Wednesday and will rubberize the surface in two weeks. The installation of the new turf football field was also recently completed, said Kristopher Luoto, Assabet director of business operations.

“The seams were all stitched and the infill was groomed in,” Luoto said of the turf field. “In addition, the logo was stitched in.”

The natural grass football field and cinder track were constructed in 1973 and have not been substantially updated since. The new synthetic turf field will allow all fall sports teams to play on the surface.

The old four-lane cinder track, which was made of crushed stone, requires significant management and often gets muddy during rainstorms. The new eight-lane rubberized track will provide an improved running surface for athletes and allow the school to host local and state tournaments.

Seating walls have been installed around the field and crews will finish site work around the field, parking lot and access road in the next two weeks, said Luoto.

The new bleachers and press box are being constructed off site and will be delivered by the end of the summer. Carpentry instructor Wayne Coulson, Head Football Coach Ken Stukonis and Assistant Football Coach Mark Stukonis are adding their construction prowess to the project as well, said Luoto.

“These three have been working hard at constructing our ticket booth which will serve as our main entrance,” he said.

The project, which is the first major renovation of the complex in four decades, will feature more parking and will be the third phase of the school’s athletic renovation plan. Assabet recently revamped its baseball and softball fields and outdoor tennis and basketball courts.

“There is growing excitement and we are thrilled with the work we have seen thus far,” said Superintendent Ernest Houle.

Luoto has received several calls from local community groups and organizations about renting the field.

Assabet will not assess its seven member towns – Marlborough, Hudson, Southborough, Northborough, Westborough, Berlin and Maynard – for the cost of the project. Instead, the school will pay for the project using available funds and selling naming rights to the new complex.

“We are still looking for a title sponsor for the field, which will include naming rights, signage on the field, scoreboard and promotional opportunities at all of the events at Assabet,” said Luoto. “We have been in discussions with a number of companies and hope something can be announced in the near future.”

 

Source:metrowestdailynews.com