High School Athletics Upgrade Put on Fast Track

students could be enjoying a new sports field and usable track in a little more than a year if Mayor Kevin Dumas' timeline for the $2.5 million renovation project is met. Dumas told the school committee at its meeting Monday night that construction would begin next spring or summer and completed by September, or October at the latest.

The proposal, which Dumas announced to city and school officials , calls for the replacement of the deteriorated track, the transformation of the grass football field into a multi-sport synthetic surface and the installation of new bleachers, a press box and fencing. Also, school and city officials will raise money to fund a new concession stand and bathroom.

"We've got to work quickly on an aggressive [fundraising] plan … so that way the stadium project can be done as a whole," Dumas said.

The bathroom and concession stand upgrade would cost about $400,000, Dumas said.

School Committee members David Murphy and Mike Tyler praised the proposal, with Tyler calling it "very exciting for the city of Attleboro."

The mayor will make a presentation on the proposal to the City Council tonight. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.