The Boyle Athletic Complex at Smithfield High School opened just in time for the start of the 2024-2025 academic year.
On August 30, the girls and boys varsity soccer teams played North Smithfield High School on the new synthetic turf field. The upgrades include a scoreboard, bleachers, running track, and track and field event spaces.
“It’s exciting to see the Boyle Athletic Complex completed, providing a first class athletic and recreation facility for our student athletes and town residents,” said State Senator David Tikoian.
“On a personal level, as a product of the Smithfield Public School District, proud alumni of Smithfield High School Class of 1986, former student athlete and Co-Captain of our Sentinel Football Team, I couldn’t be more pleased about the Boyle Athletic Complex finally coming on line and to fruition,” Tikoian said. “It’s a top-notch Athletic Facility we are proud to call home to our Smithfield Sentinels. Providing them with a safe, environmentally friendly, and modern-day athletic complex adding to the high school experience.”
“As former Town Council member, I recall in the Spring of 2022, the vote being unanimous, approving the allocation of $876,500 in ARPA funding to the project,” Tikoian noted. “In my opinion this was the funding catalyst to ensure the project would commence.”
The Town directed $645,975 in Impact Fees, $1,369,475 in Capital Funds and $670,831 in reinvested housing aid to the project, according to Tikoian.
The funding also included energy efficiency upgrades to school buildings under the umbrella of the project scope.
Tikoian noted the project was a collaboration “between the Town Council, School Department, DPW, Town Manger’s Office, and the Boyle Athletic Complex Committee worked to improve the quality of life and recreational opportunities in our Town.”
The Boyle Athletic Building Committee included Chair David Russas; Vice Chair Dan Kelley; Superintendent Dawn Bartz; DPW Director Gene Allen; Town Council Member Michael Lawton; Facilities Director Angelo Mencucci; School Committee Member Rose Marie Cipriano; Town Finance Director Danielle Carey; Resident Michael Tartaglia; School Committee Member Anthony Torregrossa; Recreation Director Robert Caine; Town Manager Randy Rossi; Athletic Director Jason Gove; Resident William Hickey; Robert Squillante-Coach and Smithfield Police Department Patrol Officer; and Mike Smith-Coach and Smithfield Police Department Deputy Chief.
“The new athletic facility is absolutely fabulous and long overdue,” Bartz said. “This field will benefit all our students, and the intent is to have both the middle school and high school athletes use this as their home field. I was at the first games on the field last Friday, Girls and Boys Soccer. The field was great, the students were so happy to be playing on this state-of-the-art field. Students will have a field and track that they deserve— new and high quality. It is a place that will bring our entire community together.”
Town Council member John Tassoni is appreciative of the new athletic complex but feels more can be done.
“We need more recreation for our young folks, we need better facilities, and we need to start moving the ball down the field to get better fields and better accommodations,” Tassoni added.