Concord athletic director outlines relocations as Runlet fields close for middle‑school construction

Steve Largie, athletic director at Concord High School, told the Concord School District building committee Feb. 5 that the district expects substantial disruption to practices and games while the Runlet field complex is used as the middle‑school construction site and that planners have identified temporary field and transport options.

“This is what we could see happen,” Largie said, presenting a tentative relocation plan that lists spring and fall users of the Runlet fields, including high‑school and middle‑school lacrosse, soccer, football and track. He said the site typically supports sizeable cohorts — “programs up to 310 middle school student athletes on that field after school every single day.”

Why it matters: With the primary practice and game fields under construction, the district must find nearby fields for dozens of teams each season, organize transportation for students and budget for rental and equipment costs. Largie said the plan prioritizes proximity for practices to limit travel time and logistical burdens on families and staff.

Key details: Largie said the district is pursuing nearby options including Martin Field, National Guard Field, the State Hospital field, NHTI and several community parks. Martin Field is about 0.8 miles door‑to‑door from the Runlet site and is being considered for boys lacrosse and other practices; Largie said the district is exploring a dedicated athletics bus that could also handle late‑bus needs.

Track and field: Largie reported that a USATF official who inspected Memorial Field concluded the track is not safe for competition. “It’s definitely not safe to be competing on,” he said, meaning track teams will need an alternative surface this spring and that hosting meets at the site is unlikely until repairs occur.

Costs and equipment: The presentation included preliminary cost estimates for additional rentals and equipment. Largie estimated roughly $8,064 in added rental costs for use of NHTI for games and said renting National Guard Field for four varsity football games (at $52 per hour) was already reserved; he noted additional costs such as tower lights (roughly $4,000 per season) and portable‑toilet relocations. He emphasized figures are tentative and will be refined as schedules are confirmed.

Availability limits: Some nearby fields are heavily used by community leagues and other schools; Largie said Martin Field and Merrimack Valley are possible partners but availability varies by season. NHTI is an option for game fields but carries higher hourly rental rates.

Safety and routing: Committee members pressed the district on sidewalks and safe walking routes, particularly routes lacking sidewalks such as parts of Iron Works Road. Largie said the district will prioritize routes with sidewalks where possible and use transport for routes judged unsafe.

What’s next: Largie asked the committee and community partners to share other ideas and potential field hosts; the athletic plan remains tentative and will be revised as the construction schedule and community agreements are finalized.

There were no formal votes on athletics at the meeting.