ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — As the construction project at Memorial Stadium and Mountainside Park nears completion, the city of Asheville is reminding the public to stay out of construction zones.

Memorial Stadium opened as an athletic and special events facility in 1927, according to the city’s website. McCormick Field, home of the Asheville Tourists baseball team, borders the stadium on its western boundary and opened a year earlier. After Asheville voters approved a $17 million bond referendum in 2016 to improve parks and recreation facilities, Asheville Parks & Recreation began planning for the redevelopment of Memorial Stadium and Mountainside Park.

A press release sent from the city on Friday said the project, including the six-lane track, is close to the finish line. In the coming days, the contractor working at Memorial Stadium will be pouring a rubberized top layer on the track, which will require up to six weeks to fully cure. Use of the track while the rubber finish is curing will cause considerable damage and delay the overall project, the city warns.

The city says residents have been observed walking, jogging, riding bicycles and playing in the construction zone. This, the city says, can be dangerous.

“Being in a work zone without proper safety equipment and a thorough knowledge of the hazards is dangerous,” Capital Management Director Jade Dundas says in the press release. “The community’s enthusiasm about using the new facilities is appreciated. We, too, are excited and are working diligently to reopen this community asset to the public. Thank you for adhering to the signs and staying out of restricted areas around the work sites.”

Here are some general safety tips to keep in mind:

  • Don’t walk, jog, or ride bikes in construction zones.
  • Find a different way if a construction zone temporarily affects your route.
  • Don’t play on or near construction equipment.
  • Obey posted warnings and never go beyond construction fences, caution tape, barriers or barrels.
  • Be careful around heavy equipment. If you can’t see the driver, they can’t see you.

The city encourages residents to keep an eye out for announcements about the area reopening to the public.