BURRILLVILLE – Plans for the soon-to-be-built structure for concessions, a handicap viewing plaza and a press box by the Burrillville High School football field have expanded, with the Town Council allocating an additional $165,000 for the upgrades.
The decision came following public feedback from those who hope to use the building and wanted equipment for food preparation, as well as a better view of the field.
The bulk of the funding for the project, an accessory to the newly installed synthetic turf field, comes through a $500,000 grant secured by U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner in 2024. An initial design by Joe Casali Engineering imagined a 24 X 24 concrete block building with an A-frame roof and space to serve pre-made foods.
But it seems the volunteer community groups that will run the concessions were hoping for a bit more.
“There was good feedback that we got from the community members,” said Town Council President Donald Fox. “It comes with a price tag. This is something that’s – again – a once in a generation opportunity for us, to put this complex into place, and I’d hate to see us be penny wise and pound foolish.”
According to the new plan, a kitchen inside the structure will include a fryolator and a griddle, with an exhaust fan and fire suppression, a three-bay sink, a refrigerator and freezer, a popcorn maker, a hotdog roller and a stainless steel shelve. The appliances are expected to cost $58,000, to be funded from the town’s CIP account.
Department of Public Works Director Jeffrey McCormick presented three options for how to alter the design to accommodate the new features, including the preferred final plan, which will expand the building to 24 X 36 and utilize a flat roof with a deck and railing system to allow video recording from above the field. The building will have more windows to allow workers to see the game and include a staircase up to the roof.
“It does fit behind the middle row of seats that we have,” McCormick said of the new design.
Councilor Kevin McDaniel asked if it would make sense to combine the building with a second planned structure by the new field with restrooms. But Town Manager Michael Wood said they would run into space issues.
“It fits right in,” said Wood. “The building is about as big as it’s going to get for the site.”
Once complete, the kitchen will offer fundraising opportunities to local organizations including the BHS Boosters and the Patriots Boosters, and Fox noted they will likely pay to use the space, bring in their own food for each event and then take home the profits.
“We charge some rent and someone basically goes in and runs it like they would a restaurant,” Fox explained.
Councilors voted unanimously to dedicate $165,000 to the effort, using the interest from two bonds totaling $165,000 for the upgrades.
Fox noted the spending may be negligible, as officials are working on getting a sponsor for the building.
“The fundraising efforts are continuing behind the scenes,” he said.
Of the upgrades, Fox added, “We felt it would be worthwhile. It’s going to be a beautiful presentation for our program.”
