Wilmington’s Baynard Stadium will be closed to the public starting Monday as work begins to install temporary bleachers at the facility.
The south bleachers at the 5,000-seat stadium were condemned as potentially unsafe in late May due to structural concerns.
The closure will last about 5 weeks as the old bleachers are taken down and electrical service is relocated.
Once the initial work is done, officials say the temporary seating will be built. It will only provide about 900 seats, leaving the facility about 1,1oo short of its previous capacity.
During the closure, the City of Wilmington Parks and Recreation’s Wednesday evening track meets will continue to be held through July 29, but that is the only activity being allowed.
Work on the temporary seating is expected to be complete in time for the fall high school sports season.
Five First State schools - Salesianum, Delaware Military Academy, Howard, St. Elizabeth and St. Mark's - regularly use the facility for games.
DNREC’s Division of Parks and Rec is also working to plan, design and fund new permanent seating, but now says it could take a few years.
