Kingston Stadium Remains
A Community Gathering Site
Since first opening its gates in 1952, Kingston Stadium has hosted hundreds of community activities, high school commencement ceremonies, fine arts events, and athletic competitions. Sporting events have included professional football exhibition games, college and high school football, as well as high school track and field events.
The stadium has been well maintained throughout its 57 years. But – as it aged – it needed infrastructure repairs and upgrades. The approval by voters of the School Infrastructure Local Option Tax made some of the most necessary renovations possible. During the past several months, Kingston has been active with these construction projects.
Health and safety played a key role in determining the projects that would be funded. Priority was given to five:
- Electrical upgrades and new field lighting: Aged wiring and transformers that served all areas of the stadium have been replaced. A more efficient lighting system will double the light output and decrease the light spillage to the surrounding neighborhood.
- North restroom facilities: New handicapped accessible restrooms have been constructed at the north end of the stadium.
- Plumbing Upgrades: Main waterlines throughout the stadium have been replaced.
- South rest room facilities: Original facilities remain in service but now have new fixtures and windows.
- Playing Surface: Perhaps the most highly-anticipated safety improvement, the native earth field was replaced with synthetic turf. This will allow participants to play on a safe, consistent surface and will limit cancellations resulting from the effects of weather on the surface.
The renovation project was recently completed at a cost of $2.9 million. The upgrades will be funded through SILO ($2.2 million) and PPEL funds ($700,000).
The community will return to the stadium on Thursday, Aug. 27 for the opening football season game between the Jefferson High School J-Hawks and the Xavier High School Saints.