SOUTH PORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC COMPLEX HISTORY
Key Facts
The current South Portland High School (SPHS) stadium field has not been renovated in nearly 60 years, and the track is 13 years old with a majority of the seven lanes significantly deteriorating.
The stadium lights are 38 years old. Replacement parts are unavailable because of their age.
The community has been weighing the renovation of the athletic complex and installation of synthetic turf for more than 17 years.
Timeline
1965: Construction of the SPHS track and football field was completed. At that time the only teams using the facility were football and boys outdoor track & field. The field and track were constructed for football dimensions before SPHS sanctioned the sport of soccer. There have been no major renovations to the field since it was constructed.
1969: Construction of a baseball field was completed and the baseball team moved their games from Mahoney to the high school. The outfield of the baseball field served as the practice field for football.
1972: Field hockey team was sanctioned and played on the “upper field.” This location is now home to the SPHS tennis courts and upper staff parking lot.
1973: Girls’ outdoor track & field and boys’ soccer were sanctioned and began competition at the high school stadium. Because the stadium field has never been adapted for soccer, our teams play on a much narrower field than is recommended for interscholastic play.
1977: Softball was sanctioned and around this time two softball fields were built at either end of the “upper field.”
1986: The current lights were installed at the high school stadium complex. The only maintenance to the stadium lights has been the replacement of bulbs.
1987: Girls’ soccer was sanctioned and began play at the high school stadium field.
1999: Girl’s and boys’ lacrosse were sanctioned and began play at the high school stadium field.
2002: The current concessions building was built.
2005: The current stadium bleachers and press box were constructed replacing the original wood plank bleachers and press box.
2007: South Portland High School renovation project failed at referendum. This renovation project would have included a turf stadium field and new track, lights, concessions building and permanent restrooms.
2010: SPHS renovation referendum earns voter approval, but the project did not include changes to the stadium and field.
2011: Stadium track was resurfaced. This was the last time the track was refurbished.
2012-2014: During the high school renovation project the tennis courts were relocated to their current location. The “upper” field and softball fields were lost to parking and tennis courts, and the baseball field became the location of the current practice fields which were not irrigated. These changes forced the sports of field hockey, baseball and softball to practice and play at the Wainwright complex.
2018: The current practice field running from the discus cage toward Nutter Road had irrigation installed. The current practice field running along Nutter Road remains unirrigated.