Structural problems shutter Port Townsend Memorial Field’s aging bleachers immediately

The bench-like bleachers at Memorial Field.  —Peninsula Daily News photo

The bench-like bleachers at Memorial Field. —Peninsula Daily News photo

PORT TOWNSEND— The bleachers at Memorial Field are closed until further notice after a structural engineer who was preparing a bid on the project noticed items that need to be fixed now.

Jefferson County Public Works Director Monte Reinders said today that the engineer, who he did not identify, was inspecting Memorial Field on Monday and determined that deterioration of structural members and problems with connections of the roof structure to the concrete grandstands were faulty.

The county, which operates Memorial Field, closed access to the structure this morning, wrapping its perimeter in police tape and posting signs to keep people out.

“This is all new to us,” Reinders said.

“We were going to get a new roof, which is why we had the engineer in for a bid,” he said.

“Now we have to come up with a new strategy.”

Memorial Field was dedicated exactly 66 years ago tomorrow: May 21, 1948.

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