The project: Dilboy Stadium is a premier multi-purpose public sports facility in Somerville, MA, serving semi-professional leagues, community organizations, and academic athletic programs. The project focused on revitalizing the stadium’s primary athletic infrastructure and improving the surrounding ecological environment.

The goal: The primary objective was to replace outdated and unsafe athletic surfaces to ensure player safety and maintain the stadium’s status as a top-tier facility. Additionally, the project aimed to integrate sustainable practices and improve environmental quality.

The design: The redesign included full replacement of the synthetic turf field and running track, both of which had exceeded their life expectancy. Key design elements included:

• Reseeding of the auxiliary fields with natural grass, specifically designed to comply with requirements for areas within Bordering Land Subject to Flooding (BLSF)
• Installation of a vegetated buffer strip between the auxiliary fields and the river to support absorption and infiltration
• Removal of invasive plant species and rehabilitation of the buffer zone using native, sustainable vegetation to restore biodiversity and ecological function

The outcome: The revitalized Dilboy Stadium now provides a safe, modern, and high-performance environment for athletes and teams at all levels. In parallel, the project’s ecological enhancements have improved stormwater management and restored native habitats along the Alewife Brook, strengthening the site’s environmental resilience and community value.