Alexandria City Public Schools is set to modernize the Parker-Gray Memorial Stadium at T.C. Williams High School, bringing it into line with other modern sporting facilities across Northern Virginia.
ACPS Facilities staff has begun the process to find an architectural and engineering firm specializing in school stadium design and improvements. The firm will be requested to design a new press box, a sound system, lighting, track facilities, new field turf and improvements to both home side and visitor’s side bleachers.
Lighting upgrades include stadium lights for the field, as well as egress and safety lighting. The modernization design process will also provide designs for a ticket booth, a concession stand and new bathrooms.
The current concession stand lacks running water and some of the basic amenities found in other high school concession stands. Designs will also be drawn up for new restrooms and for a ticket booth, which are missing features of the current field.
As part of the modernization plan, both the turf field and track need to be replaced as they are nearing the end of their lifecycle. The design for the track will include a high jump area, steeple chase water hazard, pole vault runway and pit area, long jump runway and sand pit, and shot put circle and landing zone.
Many elements of Parker-Gray Stadium date back to 1965 when the original T.C. Williams building was opened. Last spring, the School Board approved $320,000 for stadium design work in the FY2016 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget.
Staff recommendations to upgrade Parker-Gray Stadium are based on student capacity. As student enrollment continues to grow, there is increasing need to maintain modern facilities to meet the athletic needs of the current and future student population and the marching band.
The Parker-Gray Stadium design is expected to be completed by spring 2016. At that point in time, ACPS has planned a full community engagement process.
For more information, visit www.acps.k12.va.us/tcstadium.