he Town of Ledyard and the Ledyard Public School System needed a modern track and athletic field to replace the current outdated facilities. KBA initially assessed the existing outdated track and field facility and performed programming with key stakeholders, which ultimately lead to the proposed master plan. The project team assisted the School District in presenting the need for the improvements and estimated project costs to the Town and the general public.
Upon receiving Town wide approval of the project, KBA was further engaged to prepare construction documents, provide bidding assistance, and assist the District with construction administration services.
The improvements to the athletic facility extended beyond the replacement of the existing track and conversion of the natural grass field to synthetic turf. This project included addressing accessibility and safety concerns. The existing track and grass field were separated by a concrete curb that varied in height, creating a safety concern for athletes utilizing the track and field. Additionally, track events such as the long/triple jump, pole vault, and high jump were reconfigured to allow for better use of the space. The new synthetic turf field and running track are state of the art surfaces not only for performance, but also for player safety.
As with all KBA projects, the field was tested to meet industry leading player and ball interaction requirements, ensure the surface performs as close as possible to a natural grass field.