Newly-Renovated Harry E. Franks Stadium Makes Neshaminy Debut

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, PA —The newly-renovated Harry E. Franks Stadium will make its football debut under the Friday night lights following a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Just before 7 p.m., a ceremony is expected at the 50-yard line with members of the Franks family, school officials, and local dignitaries.

Neshaminy High School will then take on Council Rock South for football.

The renovations are part of a $13 million project that included a transformation of its athletic fields to turf.

Following the end of the last fall sports season, work got underway for new baseball, multi-purpose, and softball fields and tennis courts at the high school.

In Harry E. Franks Stadium, the rubber track and long jump surfaces were removed. The grass playing field and topsoil were removed and graded in preparation for a new turf field and track surface.

The Football Hall of Fame pavilion and snack stand were also dismantled. Both were recreated in the area of a new gateway entrance and field house.

The new turf field made its debut for Neshaminy High School's graduation class at the end of the school year.

Harry Franks, a former Marine who served as a teacher and coach, led the effort to build the stadium in 1956.

He coached the Neshaminy football team to multiple victories beginning in the 1950s. He retired as high school athletic and extracurricular activities director in 1983. The district named the stadium for him in 1985.

When the gates open for fall sports games at the stadium and surrounding athletic fields, a new online ticketing service will also make its debut for high school games and events along with a few changes in seating and procedures for fans.