Senator Young Secures $150,000 Grant To Assist With Renovations to Bradner Stadium

SAM grant funding will help the City of Olean with the next phase of renovations to the facility

ALBANY – Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I – Olean) announced today that she has secured a $150,000 grant to assist the City of Olean with completion of the renovation and rehabilitation of Bradner Stadium.

The city will receive the new grant, made available through the State & Municipal Facilities Capital Program (SAM), to complete the rehabilitation and improvement of the historic stadium which currently plays home to athletic teams from the Olean City School District, the Jamestown Community College Jaguars’ soccer team, the Olean Oilers, and the Southern Tier Diesel.

“This grant is exciting news as the city continues to improve Bradner Stadium and make the facility more accommodating for the schools, organizations and residents who use it. Whether it’s a football or soccer game in the fall, fireworks on the Fourth of July, or one of the other tremendous local events hosted at the stadium each summer, most of our residents have fond memories of spending time there,” said Senator Young.

“Funding from the grant means area taxpayers won’t be on the hook for the next round of renovations and ensures the city can continue making upgrades that will make the site more appealing for groups looking to host events in the Olean area. The funding will also go a long way in bringing relief to taxpayers, as the upgrades save the city money from ongoing maintenance cost. The upgrades will allow the city to collect additional revenue from the site, providing long-term budget relief for taxpayers and spurring economic activity downtown,” said Senator Young.

City of Olean Mayor William Aiello said, “The City of Olean is very grateful to Senator Young for securing this grant. We plan to use the funds from the grant to help us complete the Bradner Stadium Capital Project. The renovation of this landmark has been an initiative of three administrations. The stadium has brought new energy to our community, and it offers our residents more options for recreation.”

In recent years, the city has spent roughly $1.65 million renovating the facility and bringing the historic structure back to playable condition. Renovations have already been made to the tunnel entrance under East State Street, as well as the installation of a baseball diamond and a permanent dugout.

Funding from the SAM grant will now be used to help the city with some of the upgrades that still need to be made to the facility. This includes the construction of a new multi-use building to house equipment for users of the stadium, a referee changing area, and half-time locations for athletic team meetings. The funds will also be used to replace the original 1925 electrical switch gear and transformers, the installation of safety netting around the backstop area, and the replacement of a dangerous sidewalk around the top walking area of the stadium. Finally, installation of additional fencing will complete the security system for the stadium.

“Enhancing quality of life opportunities has a direct impact on our economy and people’s lives. Bradner Stadium is yet another success story of what can happen when people work together,” Senator Young said.