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10/17/2025
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Speaker Shekarchi, Rep. Fogarty join officials at ribbon cutting of new URI track and field facility
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 STATE HOUSE — Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi and Rep. Kathleen A. Fogarty (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown) joined URI Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn and other officials at the groundbreaking ceremony for URI’s new track and field facility Thursday.
“This groundbreaking today represents another step forward in the General Assembly’s and URI’s ongoing shared investments in excellence on and off the field,” said Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick). “Facilities like this help attract talented athletes and scholars to Rhode Island, strengthening our flagship university.”
The new track and field facility is one of several URI athletic facilities that will undergo significant improvements as part of a $65.8 million Rhode Island Capital Plan investment in championship-caliber facilities at the state’s flagship university. Supported by McKee and the General Assembly, the RICAP funding also includes upgrades for Meade Stadium, Tootell Aquatic Center, Beck Field, URI Softball Complex, and URI Soccer Complex. The University is raising an additional $20 million to support enhancements to the facilities to transform the student-athlete experience, offer enhanced fan experiences, and provide expanded community access.
“These world-class athletes deserve a world-class facility, and they will get one,” said URI President Marc Parlange at a groundbreaking ceremony for the track and field facility on Oct. 16. “This new facility will have a tremendous impact on training, competition, and a sense of pride in having world-class spaces to match our student-athletes’ world-class performances.”
Bjorn thanked former URI track coaches Lauren Anderson and John Copeland, both in attendance, for their contributions to the program and University. Anderson was URI’s first-ever women’s cross country and track and field coach and a former senior woman’s administrator. Copeland is regarded as the most successful coach in URI history, having won 25 Atlantic 10 Conference titles in men’s indoor and outdoor track in his 39 years as the head coach.
The nine-lane track and field facility is expected to be completed by summer 2026. (URI renderings)
Bjorn also took time to recognize the URI facilities team “who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this day a reality.”
For more information, contact:
Larry Berman, Communications Director for the Office of the Speaker
State House Room 322
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 447-2655
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