After nearly a year of construction, planning, and deliberations, most of the North Attleborough High School athletic complex will be ready for use this spring.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Antonucci said the $5 million project, which includes track and bleacher replacement, a new press box, an ADA-compliant lift, toilets, lavatories, and fencing, has reached its final phase. The track and bleachers will be ready for sporting and graduation events. Construction on the toilets and concession building will finish in the fall.
“It was a three-phase project,” Antonucci said. “The first was the track, the second was the bleachers, and the third is the toilets. The track is essentially finished except for one layer that will be put on in the summer.”
Antonucci said there are 2,000 newly-constructed bleachers. Of those, 1,500 will be for home teams, and 500 will be for visitors. Antonucci said it is standard practice for visiting teams to have fewer benches, as sporting events have more fans for the home team attend. The biggest challenge, Antonucci said, was modifying the site to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“We had to level the land so that it was accessible for those with disabilities,” Antonucci said. “There was a considerable amount of site work to ensure this was done.”
While the new toilets are currently unavailable, Antonucci said those going to games have access to amenities already in place.
“We just sent out a bid to build the toilets so construction has not even begun,” he said. “The concessions building project is likely to extend into the summer or fall.”
The athletic complex project began in July 2022 after the Town Council voted to allocate funding for its construction. Originally, the plan was to rebuild the bleachers and track at the Ray Beaupre Field. In 2021, Antonucci reviewed the project and discovered a lack of consideration regarding plumbing codes, concession stands at the site, storage concerns and ADA compliance.
Antonucci said the project will be something for all North Attleborough students and residents will enjoy.
“The fact is that we are building something the community can enjoy,” he said. “It is an investment the community made.”
