Memorial Field in Concord N.H., will not play host to the city’s middle school and high school track meets this spring after school officials deemed the track and general facilities in a state of disrepair and inappropriate for competition.
According to the Concord Monitor, each year between 240 and 280 student-athletes compete in track and field in the school district. Without Memorial Field, the teams must overhaul their schedules. This disruption comes just one season after the Concord High School girls' team won the state championships in 2025.
Memorial Field has major cracks across all six lanes of the track, grass growing within those cracks, uneven surfaces in the pole vault and shot put areas and issues with the sandpits.
“I do not believe that it is a safe venue to hold meets. It is in need of at least resurfacing and structural repairs,” USTA official Robert Gidari wrote in a report to Concord athletics director Stephen Largy. “It would not be safe to hold competitions on this track.”
As a result of the deteriorating facilities, Concord High School’s track and field team will instead practice at Merrimack Valley’s facility and the middle school will practice at Broken Ground’s cinder track.
“I don’t know if many in our local community truly understand how essential that facility is and how broken down it has become,” said Zach Procek, head track and field coach. “It is a critical space, not just for our track program but for all of our fall and spring athletic programs.”
In 2024, Concord developed a master plan for renovations of Memorial Field, including a new eight-lane, 400 Meter track and a multi-purpose field that could accommodate field events as well as football, soccer and lacrosse. That plan also called for new sports lighting, bleachers and the renovation of the field house.
“I hope that this becomes a higher priority for the city than it currently is because Memorial Field isn’t just for the schools,” Procek added. “It’s for everyone in the greater Concord community.”
Memorial Field and its facilities will remain open to the public, despite being ruled out for school use.
