Fans attending basketball games may notice the new cushioned plastic bleachers that were installed in the OSHS gymnasium in November, replacing the original 50-year-old pine bleachers that had been fixed several times over the decades. OSPS Director of Operations, Facilities, and Finance Pam Listorti said that The RJ Lord Company out of Manchester CT did the work at an overall project cost of $200,000.
Associate principal Joseph Anastasio says “I think it’s going to be comfortable and more accessible for people. They are brand new and they are going to look great.”
The old wooden bleachers were the original bleachers from 1967, 57 years old. The new bleachers are ADA approved, which means they meet accessibility rules so people with disabilities can use them. They include wheelchair spaces, ramps, handrails, and good visibility for everyone. Our new bleachers will have railings, access aisles for wheelchairs, and there are contoured seats vs. flat wooden boards. These seats are remotely powered which means they will be easier to store.
One of the gym teachers Laura Westner says “I think it will improve the overall look of the gymnasium, I think that it will add character, and I think during basketball games it will be exciting to see the blue seats to add to our school climate, more accessible for disabilities. It will have handrails and easier steps to climb.”
The bleachers were manufactured by Hussey Seating. Mrs. Pendleton (retired in January) had done research to find seating that would fit the ADA requirements and where recommended by other schools. They were able to secure the funding to make the project happen.
Pam Listorti talked about how Old Saybrook wanted to change the bleachers before she got there. The reason why the bleachers were not done sooner was because they had to wait for the funding.
Mr. Anastasio says “I think it was time to replace the old ones, they were kinda getting worn out and the other piece is accessibility, accessibility railings and things like that and I think they are going to be more comfortable. Aesthetically they are going to look nice and I think people will be more comfortable seated at the games.”
After 57 years of the old wooden bleachers the new bleachers will make the transition easier for custodians and teachers.
Mrs. Westner says we are “Looking forward to not looking to pull them out and they are operated by switch.”
