Acres of topsoil have been stripped and trucked away from Mt. Hope High School at the start of a $2.7 million project to channel water and improve drainage on the school campus. Passersby on Naomi Street have a good view of the dirt mountains, bare earth and constant activity as recreational fields are ripped up by bulldozers, dumped into trucks and driven off-site.

The full project will take several years, and is divided into three phases. This first phase is expected to be completed by November.

George Simmons, director of facilities for the Bristol Warren Regional School District, said about 18 inches of soil is being removed from areas at the west and north areas of the complex. The soil is being taken to another location, mixed with sand, and then brought back on site.

“We mix the soil with sand to improve the way it drains in the future,” Mr. Simmons said.

In addition, crews will be installing a system of drainage pipes to channel water away from the school building and primary fields; creating swales and retention basins; planting trees to help with water retention (and discourage geese from congregating); and building walkways throughout the complex to be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant.

“Water has never drained well here,” Mr. Simmons said. “We’re hopefully going to solve those problems.”

The problems go back generations, to the early days of what was once Bristol High School, now Mt. Hope. Perhaps because it was built on the Silver Creek watershed, with running water actually passing through the campus on its way to St. Mary’s Cemetery across the street, the property has always been wet. At times, water has even flooded parts of the high school building.

“The design of this project goes back at least 10 years,” said Superintendent of Schools Mario Andrade. “It’s a water mitigation project. We’re going to move water away from the school buildings.”

As that happens, and as they bring back soil and re-plant grass on the fields, crews will improving sports and recreational fields at the same time.

The long-term, three-phase plan calls for two new rectangular sports fields, as well as a new softball diamond and field. The first field will be planted this fall but won’t be ready for live action until the spring of 2019. The second phase of work is expected to take place next summer, also with an 18-month timeline before it is fully operational.

The $2.7 million project is being paid for in two ways. The bulk of the money comes from the school department, but with a minimum of 66 percent reimbursement by the Rhode Island Department of Education. Because this is considered a capital project to improve safety at the school, it is eligible for the state’s facilities improvement reimbursement program. Once the school department cuts a check, it can immediately get at least a 66 percent reimbursement.

The rest of the money (the other 34 percent) comes from three sources. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management awarded a $400,00 matching grant to the Town of Bristol and its recreation department. The school district is paying $300,000 and the Town of Bristol is kicking in $100,000 to match the state funds and complete the project.