DRI Dietz Stadium & Andretta Pool Improvements

Working with engineering consultants CPL, the City began a multi-phased, comprehensive restoration of its major sports complex in spring 2020. The Dietz/Andretta complex is the Kingston City School District's home field for football, track, the marching band, and special activities such as the annual high school graduation ceremony.

Residents and community groups also regularly use the facilities for swimming, walking, and a wide variety of other events.

Originally built in the 1940's, the main stadium is in dire need of structural repairs and upgrades, as is the Andretta Pool facility, which was added to the complex in the 1970's.

This important project has been kick-started with $2.5 million from the $10 million DRI award the City won in 2017. This initial funding is covering the costs of a full master plan and designs as well as construction of some elements identified in the plan. Construction of the remaining elements will continue in the future as the City secures additional funding.

The master plan includes improvements to the pool and pool house (including installation of a new splash pad), scoreboard, bleachers, water fountains, fencing and gates, sound and Wi-Fi systems, lighting, bike racks, locker rooms, bathrooms, food vending, signage, parking and more.

In addition to the DRI award, the City has also received two New York State grants for green infrastructure improvements to the parking lot and surrounding drive —$1.5 million from the Environmental Facilities Corporation and $1 million from the Department of Environmental Conservation. Parking lot designs will begin in the coming months.

To date, CPL has completed Phase 1A, which included a new roof and masonry repairs at the pool house. Phase 1B wrapped up in September and included pool lining repairs and installation of a new pump and filter that will serve both the pool and a new splash pad. The Phase 1C pad installation is now under way and is expected to be completed for Andretta's opening in June.

Next steps are to determine which improvements should be made to the stadium with the remaining DRI funds. And we'll continue to seek new grant funding to support our comprehensive improvements wish list.

Thank you to those who joined us for our public meeting on January 19, 2021. If you weren't able to attend, we welcome you to check out a recording of the presentation on our YouTube channel via the links below (or on the right) or view the PDF also found up on the right.

Master Plan Presentation Recording in English

Master Plan Presentation Recording in Spanish

And please offer your comments or ask questions about the Master Plan via the tabs below.

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Residents and community groups also regularly use the facilities for swimming, walking, and a wide variety of other events.

Originally built in the 1940's, the main stadium is in dire need of structural repairs and upgrades, as is the Andretta Pool facility, which was added to the complex in the 1970's.

Master Plan Presentation Recording in English

Master Plan Presentation Recording in Spanish

And please offer your comments or ask questions about the Master Plan via the tabs below.

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Q & A

If you have a question, please add it here, and Ruth Ann will get back to you shortly. Thank you!

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With the current timeline for construction of phase 2 beginning in Spring 2021 will this affect KHS sports (ie. track, lacrosse) or the Stockade FC soccer season? For example, would these teams be forced to play on the road for a significant portion of the season or parts of the stadium closed to fans?

bradmarepublic asked 4 months ago

Thanks for your question - the timing of, and elements to be included in, Phase 2 construction haven't yet been confirmed. We do hope to be able to do some construction in 2021, but must still identify what the community would like to see completed with the remaining DRI grant funds. We're taking comments from the public on that topic until February 28 and will then determine what the priority elements are. From there, CPL will complete bid-ready documents for prospective contractors and we can set a construction schedule. We'll work closely with the KCSD, the Stockade FC, and other users to create the least disruptive workplan and schedule as possible. For now, the only work on the schedule is installation f the splash pad next to the Andretta Pool, which is scheduled to begin in about six weeks.
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A few years ago I noticed a hazard at the edge of the pool. It was a rough piece of metal, like rebar, sticking out about 1/4" or so from the cement at the edge of the low end of the pool. (If exiting the pool house going to the pool, if you were to walk to the near edge of the pool, then walk right toward the low end, that's where the hazard was, close to the edge of the pool within about 3' of the end of the pool. I reported it (I forget where and to whom), and when I went back the following year it had not been fixed. Perhaps it has been corrected, but I haven't been back to see.

Richard Showers asked 5 months ago

Hi, RIchard -- over the summer, major repairs were completed to correct health and safety issues in and around the pool, so this would have been corrected. We repaired the areas that had deteriorated, including dangerous sections and leaks.
We posted a few photos of the pool following the work - they can be found at the bottom of the project page on the right side.
Hopefully, you'll be able to visit in person to check it out next summer!
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Hello, In the current plan will the splash pad be accessible without entering the pool facility?

Lyndsay asked 5 months ago

For safety reasons, access to the splash pad will be through the main pool house entrance. New fencing will surround the pool, picnic area, and splash pad. Existing interior fencing will be removed so that there aren't any fence barriers between the three areas.
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What improvements are going to be made to the Press Box? If it is not going to be enlarged would you consider placing an additional press box on the visitors grandstand? If you expect to attract state wide high school Championship events the size and condition of the current press box is a problem. What is the plan for turf replacement? I asked many of the same questions several months ago and did not receive a reply that I know of.

John ford asked 11 months ago

Hi, John. Thank you for visiting our new site and submitting a question. We did see your question back in May and responded at that time. I'll look into what happened to the response as it clearly didn't make it to you. Our apologies.
Work has been moving along on the pool side. The new roof and masonry repairs were completed at the pool house. Installation of a new filter and pump and pool lining repairs are almost finished. We're also moving forward with installation of a new splash pad in September.
Meanwhile, we're still very much in the design planning stage for the upgrades that will take place at Dietz Stadium. Our Master Plan is coming together, but it will be a couple of months before it's completed. Our Project Advisory Committee (PAC) is exploring all of the options and helping the City create a comprehensive "wish list."
Once we have a draft of the plan ready, we'll host a public meeting to which all interested community members are invited. There will be important choices to make at that point. For example, the PAC will have narrowed items for construction, such as the scoreboard, to one or two recommendations that will be presented with the full plan. Community members will have the chance to offer comments and ideas that will be taken into consideration before finalizing the choices.
Yes, we've been speaking about the turf and press boxes as areas in need of improvement. If you happen to have other specific ideas now that you'd like the PAC to think about as we develop the Master Plan, please don't hesitate to let us know.
Thanks again.
Ruth Ann