The Mamaroneck schools held a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday afternoon, July 29, to officially kick off renovations to Mamaroneck High School’s flagship athletic field and to celebrate progress on the MHS Memorial Field Project 2010, a joint initiative between the district and private fundraising from the community.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Shaps, who began his tenure with the Mamaroneck School District earlier this month, said, “It’s exciting to think about the wonderful collaboration that took place to make this happen, and I’m pleased to have the opportunity to see the project through for the benefit of our students and the entire Larchmont-Mamaroneck community in the years to come.”
Dr. Shaps applauded the community’s generosity in stepping up to the plate to cover the costs of the project at a time when the district was not able to do so. He said it’s important that the community understand that no additional district monies were set aside in the current budget for the field. A total of $500,000 had already been approved by voters in 2004 for this project, and New York Assemblyman George Latimer pledged an additional $250,000 in state funding towards it. The remaining dollars came solely from private fundraising led by Fields for Kids and the local youth sports leagues.
The Mamaroneck School District broke ground on renovations for Memorial Field at the high school: (l-r) front: Jim Hanley, of Fields for Kids; Superintendent Dr. Bob Shaps; School Board Trustee Linnet Tse. Back: Mamaroneck Village Mayor Norm Rosenblum, Athletic Director Bari Suman.
The public-private partnership to renovate Memorial Field consists of a phased in plan, with the existing natural grass field being reoriented in the first phase and replaced with a more resilient synthetic turf surface that will be able to withstand the heavy use it endures every day from team sports and physical education classes. Also in the first phase is demolition of the bleachers, press box and maintenance building; installation of drainage; preparation for future installation of lights, and installation of new temporary bleachers that will be moved to the visitors’ side when permanent bleachers are funded. The demolition services have been donated by community member Joe Naclerio and his company Greenline Industries (for an estimated cost savings to the district of $56,000).
The new field is expected to be complete and ready for use in October. The athletic department has been working with local municipalities and other school districts to be able to use their fields for practices and games during the construction period, in order to minimize disruption to the fall sports season.
“Wheels are in motion to ensure that all team operations run as smoothly as possible. Districts use other fields all the time when they’re going through updates to their own facilities. I’m happy to say that now it’s our turn, and our neighboring teams have been most cooperative thus far,” said Bari Suman, director of health, physical education and athletics. “The inconveniences now will pay off later when we have a fabulous varsity-sized, multi-purpose field to play on.”
The district announced at a board meeting last week that the field work project bids have been awarded. Site work is anticipated to begin next week.
Debbie Manetta is the Director of Public Information with the Mamaroneck School District
It is a shame that this field project did not start on time, and for the seniors playing Varsity Football, I hope that they can play at least a couple of home games their final year at MHS.
My thought would be to put the project on hold till next june, take the funds that would have been used for the field, use the interest from the grant money to re instate the modified and freshman athletic programs which have been cut out of the budget, so that when the new field is complete we have teams that can compete, and that will do justice to the new field,
Simple plan you propose. Not a realistic one. The costs to start the project could sky rocket for next year and end up costing the community more money or worse, not happening at all. The seniors will have a great season and they will play elsewhere. This happens all the time. Somers girls won the Section the year their field was under construction. It turned out to be an amazing year and all the schools in the area cheered them on as they played on all of the surrounding school fields. Good luck Mamaroneck, you are going to love it! Seniors, come back and start an alumni game so you will have your time on the turf!