Dowagiac Union High School will not be the only place under construction in town this summer.

The Dowagiac Union Schools Board of Education recently approved a pair of contracts for the first phase of construction at Chris Taylor Alumni Field. The leaders selected Hall Builders, based in Paw Paw, and Dan Clayton Corporation, based in Louisville, Kentucky, to handle the building of new ADA-compliant bleachers at the Dowagiac football field.

The project, expected to break ground following graduation day June 4, is expected to cost $395,350 — exceeding initial cost estimates by $31,116.

Crews with Hall Builders will be responsible for general trade work, including demolition of the existing bleachers, pouring concrete and other tasks for the project. The Dan Clayton Corporation will provide and install the new bleachers on both the home and visitors side.

The new seating structures will offer several advantages over the existing bleachers, designed to accommodate visitors with disabilities. Among these features are entry and exit ramps for people with wheelchairs, a concrete walkway surrounding the perimeter of the bleachers and special sections designed for people who need extra space, said Superintendent Paul Hartsig.

The new bleachers — part of the $37 million worth of planned renovations to the stadium, high school and elementary buildings that are funded by the 2015 school bonds — are part of the district’s efforts to increase accessibility of its structures, Hartsig said. The schools made a few improvements to the existing bleachers at Chris Taylor following a complaint from a state advocacy group in 2014, including adding a new entrance ramp, Hartsig said.

“We knew that, given the age of the field, to be completely ADA compliant we would need to replace all the bleachers,” Hartsig said. “Plus they are old and not up to current codes.”

The bleachers will offer other benefits as well, including a new concrete walkway where visitors can walk to their seats without obstructing the view of others, as is currently the case, Hartsig said.

The district is hoping to have construction on the bleachers finished before the first game of the football season on Aug. 31, the superintendent said.

The construction is the first of two phases of work the district is eyeing for the football field. Next year, leaders plan on building a new team room, concession stand and bathrooms, with work tentatively planned to kick off in spring 2018.

District leaders have other improvements outside the scope of the 2015 school bonds in mind as well, including building new bleachers for students and the band on the north end zone, installing new fencing around the field and building a LED sign on the south side of the structure.

The bleacher installation coincides with the Union High School renovation work set to take place this summer. Work on that project is expected to begin before the end of the semester this spring.

“It’s been a long time and a lot of work to get to where we are now,” Hartsig said. “When we finally start seeing some dust kicked up from construction, it will be a good feeling.”