NORTHBOROUGH – Work is progressing on Algonquin Regional High School’s new athletic complex.
This spring Northborough and Southborough voters approved the complex during their respective Town Meetings.
The “Gonkplex” calls for an artificial turf stadium field, an artificial turf multipurpose field, a new track, new tennis courts and the addition of pickleball and basketball courts and an amphitheater. The grandstand will now be Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant.
Efforts regarding Algonquin’s athletic complex dates back a decade. In March, the Regional School Committee allocated funds for the project and the Planning Board approved the plans.
RELATED CONTENT: Supt. Martineau talks ARHS athletic complex next steps
Crews broke ground on the complex in June.
In an Aug. 29 communication to district families, Superintendent Greg Martineau said the tennis courts were lined and painted, the stadium and multipurpose lights have gone up, the turf has been installed for the stadium field and the multipurpose field was being prepared for its turf to be installed.
“Although great progress has been made, much work remains,” he said.
That week, the crews were adding the final asphalt layer for the track. That milestone will kick off a rest period that could last between 20 and 30 days. The district anticipated that the pickleball and tennis courts would be completed in a few weeks, meaning that they could begin to be used by the students and community by mid-September.
As for the rest of the project, the stadium field and track are projected to be done by the end of October to early November, and the multipurpose field may be completed by the end of this month to early October.
Phase one of the Gonkplex project is slated to be done early November.
Martineau said the Athletic Complex Project Committee would study whether the multipurpose field could safely be used earlier. That message will be shared later this month.
RELATED CONTENT: Northborough approves ARHS athletic complex at Town Meeting
“Overall, it will appear that the Complex is ready earlier than the end of October; however, this is not the case as much work is scheduled for September and October,” Martineau said. “In addition, weather plays a significant factor in timelines. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate in the months ahead.”
Earlier in August, he estimated that phase two of the project – which is the interior construction of the amenities building — may begin in December. Phase three — landscaping of the complex — could begin in early March depending on the weather.
The district wants to complete all of the phases of this project before the spring athletic season. To follow the progress on the project, visit https://gonkplex.org/.
