More details have been revealed about the planned upgrades to the Plymouth High School football field. Plymouth Schools Superintendent Dan Tyree gave the school board an update on the project during its meeting Tuesday.
He says it involves tearing down much of what’s currently there and rebuilding it. “The Athletic Booster Pavilion was torn down,” he says. “It wasn’t built with footers, so it was cracking and very dangerous; it’s been torn down. The restrooms out there where the concession stand [was], again, it was built on two different projects, and they didn’t line them up correctly, so there were leaks in the roof. So after two architects told us that we’d be better off if we just tore it down, we decided to just go ahead and tear it down. Those things were demolished right on schedule.”
Meanwhile, demolition of the current bleachers and press box continues. Tyree says that work has been subcontracted to a company that refurbishes old bleachers and then sells them to schools and other facilities with limited financial resources. Depending on the weather, demolition should wrap up in the next couple weeks, followed by construction of the new facilities.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Tyree shared some renderings of what these will look like. One of the first things visitors will notice will be an improvement to the entrance area. The current blacktop will be replaced with concrete, which will be separated from the parking lot with a curb. Tyree says this will keep visitors safe while waiting in line to enter the gate and will also improve drainage issues that have led to ice buildup.
On one side of the entrance gate will be a new concession stand. It will have overhangs on three sides to provide a covered dining area, as well as shelter for those waiting in line. There will also be an open eating area nearby.
On the other side of the gate will be another building housing restroom facilities. Tyree says it will have three times the number of toilets as the old facility, as well as baby changing stations on both sides.
As for the new bleachers, Tyree says they will contain tunnels through which the players will run onto the field. He says spectators will also use tunnels to get to their seats, “Right now, how you get from one side to the other [is] you walk in front of the bleachers. We have so much trouble with people standing down there. So it’s all the way up against the fence now, and so to get from one place to the other place, you’ll walk through there. Then there’s going to be a system of gates in there, so when it’s time for the team to go out, we’ll shut the gates so you can’t get through going from one side or the other.”
Another notable feature of the new bleachers will be a cover for the back and the sides called a bleacher jersey, which will hide the metal support structure. The design of the bleacher jersey will include the words, “Welcome to the Rockpile” in large letters. Tyree says this design, which was chosen by the students, won’t include specific references to football or any other sport, in an effort to reflect the multiple uses of the facility.
