The Oak Ridge Board of Education on Monday will consider whether to demolish the visitor bleachers at Blankenship Field.
The visitor bleachers at Blankenship Field are no longer safe for fans, would cost too much to repair, and should be demolished immediately, a school official said this month.
The Oak Ridge Board of Education will consider the proposed demolition during a Monday evening meeting.
The visitor bleachers would be too much of a liability risk if they continue to be used, said Allen Thacker, maintenance and operations supervisor for Oak Ridge Schools. In addition, the main stairs from the dressing rooms to the field on the home side of Jack Armstrong Stadium/Blankenship Field are seriously aged and suffer from erosion.
A closeup of the visitor bleachers at Blankenship Field in Oak Ridge.
Thacker said the steel and aluminum from the visitor bleachers will be salvaged for recycling, if the stands are demolished, and the money could be used for repairs and renovations at the field. It could take about four or five months to build new bleachers, not including site preparation and rebuilding a retaining wall under the bleachers. Construction work should start no later than May 1, and Thacker would prefer to begin by April 1.
The visitor bleachers now hold 3,400 people, and replacing them could cost between $350,000 and $450,000, depending upon whether the stands hold 2,000 people or 3,000. The smaller bleachers would allow a small parking lot at the field for handicapped parking, a feature that doesn’t currently exist, said Manuel D. Herz of Adams, Craft, Herz, and Walker, an architectural and engineering firm that evaluated the bleachers last year.
Herz said recommended repairs to the home bleachers could include $25,000 in fencing and aisle steps and rails, and $50,000 in steel cleaning and protection and concrete block wall repairs.
The school board meeting starts at 6 p.m. Monday in the Robert J. Smallridge School Administration Building. The School Administration Building is at 304 New York Ave.
See the bleacher report and recommendations here:Â Blankenship Field Visitor Bleachers Report.
Harry Pruitt says
One thousand capacity would seem more than enough for the visitors bleachers. Did I miss the estimate on replacing the concrete steps leading from the OR dressing rooms to the field? And how about something better that a dirt bank for the visiting team to use to access and exit the field. OR can do better than that. There should be no problem in raising the funds. I will start the ball rolling with a $500 contribution. Come on Banks, Credit Unions, Y12, X-10, GIT IN THE GAME!!
johnhuotari says
Harry,
There was a citizen-led initiative under way last fall for significant renovations at Jack Armstrong Stadium, but I’m not sure of the status of those plans. I don’t think serious fundraising had started yet. I believe I heard about it through the Quarterback Club. I’m not sure if the Boosters Club was involved as well.
I have sent a message to one of the people involved to see if he can give us an update. I’ll provide an update here if I hear anything.
WK Hyatt says
To do it right, 2000 is fine, some Oak Ridge fans like to sit over there too. Also add a small press box for visitors radio, coaches, which would create more room in our press box. Build a visitors lockerroom and new concessions, bathrooms underneath or adjacent to the new bleachers and eliminate the problem of the visitors trekking down the bank. Parking lot for ADA and visitors buses over there too, again giving more room on the home side. Will have to be done with CIP funding and big corporate donations both. $550K in school budget needs to be pulled up from FY2016 to this summer to complete this first phase of the work for the visitors side. Good plans exist for this. Kingsport DB, Greeneville, Morristown, Johnson City are all either completed or working on their stadiums now. The time has come with the issues of the visitors side bleachers to focus on making Blankenship Field a match for the schools mentioned here.
johnhuotari says
I heard back from Chris Corwin. He said Athletic Director Mike Mullins and others are working aggressively to iron out the details of the proposed stadium renovations and master plan for launching a fundraising campaign.
WK Hyatt says
That is true….Mike Mullins has a great plan for a total remod of the Stadium, with some of the items I mentioned above and more to follow in later stages…and hopefully the fundraising will get off the ground in February…the fundraising would be for the later stage upgrades, right now, the CIP money is needed for the bleachers, that is an immediate need, since time shortens up fast for the beginning of next season.
WK Hyatt says
What did the School Board decide at last night’s meeting?
Angi Agle says
We approved demolition of the old bleachers. Any decision on new bleachers will be a separate vote.
WKHyatt says
Thanks….I hope they approve the new bleachers, we don’t want to be one of those one sided Knoxville stadiums….we can go with less seats (2000) per Mike Mullin’s plans and we need to do the new locker rooms, concessions and bathrooms over there too.
Devrin Kuipers says
I wish someone had thought of repurposing them for the various soccer fields around town that have no seating at all. The treads were still good, just the support trusses needed replacing. Transfer of property from the school district to the city parks and rec department.
johnhuotari says
Thank you.
johnhuotari says
I posted a follow-up story about the School Board decision: http://oakridgetoday.com/2014/01/29/school-board-approves-demolition-of-visitor-bleachers-blankenship/