Here’s the challenge: Construction is set to start next March on the city’s two new high schools. Students will continue attending the existing schools as foundations for the schools take shape on existing playing fields. So where will students play football, soccer, baseball and softball, tennis, run track or play lacrosse? 

School and city officials including Mayor Frank Picozzi have been working on answers. The solutions thus far may not be ideal and bank on getting started now and favorable conditions, but it’s a beginning. Playing key roles are Veterans Middle School and Mickey Stevens Sports Complex. Work is nearly completed on resurfacing the Vets track, a $264,000 project that will give both high schools a place to hold events.

In approving the city budget, the mayor and city council allocated $500,000 to the Vets track project.  The remaining amount may be used to refurbish the Vets tennis courts. There’s more to the plan including the use of city fields now used by non school leagues and teams.

After surveying fields at the Mickey Stevens Complex that will soon be the subject of a request for proposals for a major overhaul, Mayor Picozzi believes the city can offer a short-term solution. He said field B, the baseball field farthest back from McDermott swimming pool, is the best and with some “dressing” could be playable by next year. The city Department of Public Works would do the job that requires grading the field, fresh loam and seeding beginning as soon as possible.

Picozzi said Tuesday that the Department of Environmental Management has approved a plan for the remediation of Mickey Stevens Sports Complex, meaning the city can proceed with developing conceptual plans to refurbish the facility. That would be the first step to putting the project out for bids.

The use of existing Vets fields could be extended with lights. The school department is exploring that option with Energy Rhode Island including spreading the capital cost over a period of years.

Steve Gothberg, director of school construction, sees Vets as “the key” to meeting the need for playing surfaces until new fields become functional at the new schools. The schedule calls for Pilgrim and Toll Gate to move into their new homes during the summer of 2027 at which time demolition of the existing schools would happen, making room for new athletic facilities in that space.

Gothberg thinks that both the softball field and tennis courts at Pilgrim may be available during the construction of the new school. Toll Gate tennis will continue playing on courts at Winman Middle High. Gothberg was optimistic following the recent meeting between school administrators, the mayor, Bill Facente, his chief of staff; Eric Earls, Department of Public Works director and Beverly Wiley, director of parks and recreation.

Ken Rix, director of school athletics who was also in attendance, pointed out Monday that Pilgrim is using fields at Belmont Park for soccer and that Toll Gate is using City Park fields for soccer.

He said his biggest concern at this time is next spring when construction starts and existing school fields are dug up. However, he’s confident between city and school fields there will be playing spaces to accommodate programs although it may be less than ideal.

 “Sometimes you have got to take a step backward, make some sacrifices, to get new stuff,” Rix said. With the new high schools, he said, students will have first rate facilities for years to come.

 “It’s been great working with the city and everything they do,” Gothberg said.  “I’m very happy to be working with the city.”