Sports, Top Stories

Gaelic Park Athletic Center Continues Construction, Despite Holdups

by SAMANTHA WALLA, Production Editor

During the spring semester of 2018, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced an upgrade to the athletic facilities at Gaelic Park. The Gaelic Park Athletic Center Project, known as GPAC, will serve five of Manhattan College’s outdoor sports: men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, and softball.

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Members of the athletic department at the Gaelic Park Athletic Center’s groundbreaking last spring. GOJASPERS/ COURTESY

Designated locker rooms for each sport will be installed for sports that currently do not occupy their own spaces, including locker rooms for coaches. An on-site athletic training room will be built to supplement the training facility already located in Draddy Gymnasium. A lounge room for students to study, hold meetings and aid in team-bonding completes GPAC’s specs. This will also allow them to watch their filmed games, which can hlep to improve their performance.

The facility is to be located in South Campus across from Leo Hall and the new Higgins Engineering and Science Center. The new addition to Tibbett Avenue was anticipated to be completed by the fall 2018 season after beginning construction last spring.

The hold-up can be attributed to logistical processing within New York City.

“Punch list items are being addressed and completed, and we are waiting on the Certificate of Occupancy from New York City,” said Kevin Ross on behalf of Manhattan College’s Athletic Department.

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Marianne Reilly, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, at the groundbreaking last spring. GOJASPERS/ COURTESY

The project, which requires and estimated $1.5 million to complete, is completely supported by private funding from the Manhattan College community, including donations from local businesses and alumni.

Despite the delays, the College is committed to opening the Gaelic Park Athletic Center as soon as possible. Prospective and current students will be able to enjoy everything the athletic department at MC has to offer.

Marianne Reilly, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, spoke to Manhattan College about the project while in its early stages last year.

“Building on renovations and replacement of the turf at Gaelic Park last summer, these upgrades reflect our commitment to providing a first-class student-athlete experience.”

“We are looking forward to opening the GPAC in the near future and have it meet the needs of our student-athletes for our outdoor sports,” said Ross.