Demolition begins on long-awaited Cardinal Stadium project – CT Insider

GREENWICH Demolition of the Greenwich High School Cardinal Stadium bleachers has officially begun.

The tear down of the bleachers is the first step in a project to revamp the stadium that began with the formation of a feasibility committee in 2017. The scope of the project has been the subject of much debate and change during the time since, but construction is finally underway.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Superintendent of Schools Toni Jones posted a picture of the work and joked that she was doing a happy dance over the news.

Greenwich Public Schools is on our way to an updated Cardinal Stadium, Jones tweeted.

The Board of Estimate and Taxation released $4.6 million, in $1.9 million and $2.7 million blocks, to handle what is known as Phase 1A of what is to be a multi-phase project.

Phase 1A is to include construction of new bleachers on the home field side, a new press box, an elevator, new bathrooms, a new team room that will go underneath the new bleachers and other improvements.

Work on the team room and press box is slated to take place in the spring and summer, according to recent statements made to the BET.

Following this phase, Phase 1B is to include the creation of additional handicap parking spaces, a new entry kiosk and new lights on the existing poles. That work is still awaiting town approval before it can move forward.

Under Phase 2, which also needs town approval, a new access road from East Putnam Avenue has been proposed.

Russell Davidson, managing principal and president of Mount Kisco-based KG&D Architects, which is overseeing the project, told the Board of Education in November the current phase could be mostly complete by the end of the school year.

We should start to see the buildings under construction and foundations in January and February. The bleachers themselves will be erected in March and April, Davidson told the board at its Nov. 18 meeting.

Substantial completion is in the contract for graduation 2021. Were all excited about that, he said.

WGCH Radio Sports Director Rob Adams has logged more than 20 years broadcasting GHS football, Greenwich Youth Football League, lacrosse and soccer games from the press box that came down Tuesday.

It was a bittersweet day for him and other veterans of Greenwich sports coverage.

Im certainly excited for the future at Cardinal Stadium, Adams said on Tuesday. I cant wait to see what the finished new facilities look like and how WGCH and myself fit into that. But as I watched the video of the booth being pulled down this morning I felt a touch of sadness. That booth produced over 20 years of games and memories for me. I came of age as a play by play announcer in the booth at Cardinal Stadium.

But Greenwich deserves a better facility and I look forward to whats next.

Staff reporter Justin Papp contributed to this story.

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Demolition begins on long-awaited Cardinal Stadium project - CT Insider