WESTFIELD, Mass. - Westfield State University athletics has undertaken a significant renovation project at Alumni Field, the Jerry Gravel Track and the Woodward Center this summer.

A new artificial Sprint Turf field is being installed at Alumni Field, the home of the Owls football, men's and women's soccer, field hockey, and women's lacrosse programs, as well as numerous intramural club sport events, and baseball and softball practices when weather permits.

The Jerry Gravel Track will be resurfaced as part of the renovation project, and a new concrete pad will update the throwing areas for shot, discus and hammer events.

In the Woodward Center, the 160-meter indoor track is also being resurfaced for the first time since the building opened in September of 2004.

The dismantling of the turf is already well underway. On Monday, May 14, immediately following the conclusion of the women's lacrosse season, contractors rolled in to start the process of removing the old turf and recycling materials which can be reused in the project. Within the week the old turf had been removed and site work continues to prep for the new turf.

The first layer of new track surface in the Woodward Center was laid down within 10 days of the start of the project.

The full project is scheduled to be completed by the time football preseason begins on August 10. The track, turf, and Woodward Center Field house are closed during the renovations, but will reopen to the public as work is completed.

The field will be lined for football, soccer, field hockey, women's lacrosse and men's lacrosse, which competes as a club sport.

Alumni Field was first built as an all-weather turf and track complex in 1974. The field was resurfaced in 1979 due to construction flaws, then again in 1992, and the more modern ProGrass artificial surface with enhanced cushioning for athlete safety was completed in 2006.