DRI Dietz Stadium & Andretta Pool Improvements

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The Dietz Stadium/Andretta Pool Improvements Project is a $20 million improvement project to renovate and modernize the stadium complex. Dietz Stadium construction drawings are now complete and the bid process is underway. Once construction begins, the project is expected to take 14-16 months.

Work has already been completed on Phase 1, which included the exterior of the pool house, improvements and repairs to the pool, and the addition of the splash pad. As part of Phase 2, construction began in September 2022 on a complete renovation of the interior of the pool house and is expected to be completed this spring.

The remainder of Phase 2 is focused on the stadium and its surroundings. Pre-construction work such as sub-soil borings, hazardous material testing, and site clearing began in fall 2022. The site has remained open to the public for use of the track, loop road, and parking lots during this initial pre-construction phase, but will be closed for construction.

General Project Description:

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 was 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 the 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. which will include drainage improvements, permeable pavers, bioswales, trees and repaving, will begin in the coming months.

Click below to see the Dietz Stadium Master Plan Presentation:


A recording of the Dietz Stadium public meeting on January 19, 2021 can be watched here:

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.

●●●


The Dietz Stadium/Andretta Pool Improvements Project is a $20 million improvement project to renovate and modernize the stadium complex. Dietz Stadium construction drawings are now complete and the bid process is underway. Once construction begins, the project is expected to take 14-16 months.

Work has already been completed on Phase 1, which included the exterior of the pool house, improvements and repairs to the pool, and the addition of the splash pad. As part of Phase 2, construction began in September 2022 on a complete renovation of the interior of the pool house and is expected to be completed this spring.

The remainder of Phase 2 is focused on the stadium and its surroundings. Pre-construction work such as sub-soil borings, hazardous material testing, and site clearing began in fall 2022. The site has remained open to the public for use of the track, loop road, and parking lots during this initial pre-construction phase, but will be closed for construction.

General Project Description:

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 was 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 the 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. which will include drainage improvements, permeable pavers, bioswales, trees and repaving, will begin in the coming months.

Click below to see the Dietz Stadium Master Plan Presentation:


A recording of the Dietz Stadium public meeting on January 19, 2021 can be watched here:

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.

●●●


Q & A

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

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  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    It has been 6 months and I have not seen an update to the Dietz Memorial Stadium renovations. Where can the public get an update? Thanks, Joel

    Nagle asked 12 months ago

    Thanks for your question, Joel. EngageKingston is the best place to find updates. On the Dietz page, I just moved the latest information to the top from the end of the page as many readers don't scroll down. 

    If you have further questions, don't hesitate to contact the project manager, Jack Schoonmaker, directly with questions: jschoonmaker@kingston-ny.gov. Also feel free to contact me, Ruth Ann Devitt-Frank: rfrank@kingston-ny.gov.

    Thank you!


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    Will an outdoor shower be added? Nobody actually uses the indoor shower before entering the pool. It would also be a wise COVID protocol

    SweetBean asked almost 2 years ago

    Designs for the pool house interior will begin shortly. An outdoor shower is a great suggestion and we're happy to add this request to the discussion. We'll keep you posted. Thank you!

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    A client of mine stated this was moving forward. Could you tell me at what stage this is at and when this will go out for bidding?

    Pamela Exton asked over 1 year ago

    The project is moving forward slowly in phases. If the City bonds for the remaining work, things will begin to pick up. The earliest possible bidding opportunity will be in January 2022 for the exterior envelope of the grandstand structure - this is still to be confirmed. We'll keep you posted.

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    In the 8/21/21 press release - Mayor Noble Proposes Moving Dietz Stadium Master Plan Forward through Municipal Bond, the mayor said "The total cost, currently estimated with Covid-related price increases, is approximately $18.7 million. To get the renovations underway, Mayor Noble will request Common Council approval for a municipal bond package in the amount of $13.7million. The City of Kingston Grants Management team will continue to search for additional funding opportunities and revenue sources to reduce the local share. If approved by the Council, construction is anticipated to begin 2022 and last two construction seasons." Phases 1A, 1B, and 1C are completed. For the portion of phase 2 that is not covered by the existing grant awards, the mayor will be asking the Common Council to bond for thirteen million six hundred and eighty thousand two hundred and twenty thousand dollars dollars; with the hope that the grants management team can find funding for some of that. How likely is it that grants management will find funding by the time work begins (as early as 2022). Have opportunities been identified for retroactively funding it?

    Tanya Garment asked over 1 year ago

    Hi, Tanya - we currently have one pending state grant application for $500,000 for the exterior envelope of the grandstand. We'll know by this December whether it's successful or not. It's possible other funding opportunities will arise - we check on a daily basis. We do know that it's likely there will be something in the next CFA round in summer 2022.

    Unfortunately, funders generally don't offer retroactive support for projects like this.

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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 over 2 years 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 over 2 years 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 over 2 years 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 almost 3 years 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

Page last updated: 17 Feb 2023, 02:44 PM