North Providence to unveil new football field after storm almost causes game to be canceled

NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — North Providence High School will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, ahead of the school’s first football game on its newly built football stadium.

Mayor Charles Lombardi said the $3.7 million project includes excess funds used that were left over from building two new elementary schools in the town.

But the new stadium has not come without any obstacles in the days leading up to its opening. After Monday’s heavy rain that left severe flooding across the state, parts of the field were damaged by heavy water that rushed onto the field, leaving Friday’s inaugural home opener up in the air.

But after crews worked throughout the week to repair the damage to the field, which according to Lombardi, happened mostly in the north end zone of the new stadium, the game is still set to go on as planned.

Lombardi said the new field is a much-needed upgrade from the town’s previous grass field which had poor conditions. And he added it will offer students and the community the chance to come together at a state-of-the-art facility that can be used for many sports.