Following a multi-million dollar renovation, Neshaminy High School rededicated Harry E. Franks Stadium last Friday.
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The stadium, adjacent to the high school, boasts new bleachers, a press box, a track, and an artificial turf surface. The field is set up for various sports: soccer, field hockey, football, lacrosse and track and field. The updated track now has eight lanes, up from the previous six, and a video scoreboard has been installed.
According to district spokesperson Chris Stanley, the project entailed replacing both the home and away stands as well as the press box.
Credit: Neshaminy School District
The nearby turf field, formerly designated as the “practice field,” is multipurpose, equipped with lighting and a comprehensive electronic scoreboard.
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Additionally, new tennis courts have been completed and are presently in use by the girls’ tennis team. As part of the renovation project, a turf baseball field and a softball field were finished earlier and utilized in the spring season, Stanley said.
The new stadium can host 2,992 fans on the home side and 1,994 on the away side, which is similar to its pre-renovation capacity.
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Still pending in the overhaul is the completion of a field house that will include a ticket gate, snack stand, and restroom facilities at the stadium. Bids for this addition are being reviewed by the school board, with potential construction starting this fall, Stanley said.
Members of the Franks were in attendance and cut the ribbon on the new field.
Paul Saraullo, Neshaminy School Board vice president, praised both the team responsible for the stadium’s construction and Neshaminy High School Athletic Director Lisa Pennington for their efforts to complete the facility.
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Saraullo said there “was never a doubt” that the rebuilt stadium wouldn’t be named after Franks.
The stadium’s namesake, Harry E. Franks, was among the school’s first football coaches and later served as the athletic director. The original stadium was named in his honor in 1985. Franks died in 2007. His wife, Joan, who passed in 2022, was an educator in the district for over four decades and once taught Acting Superintendent Jason Bowman.
Credit: Neshaminy School District
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The former 70-year-old sports complex underwent demolition after the fall football season. The construction of the new facility began shortly afterward.
The entire revamp of the stadium and adjacent sports complex is pegged at approximately $13 million.
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Neshaminy’s first football game at the completely refreshed stadium was a loss. Council High High School South’s team beat Neshaminy 28-7.
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