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12/19/2022 09:53 AMNew recreational developments for athletics at North Haven High School (NHHS) have been completed or are in the process of being completed, improving conditions and accessibility at facilities.
The developments took place and are currently ongoing at Montowese Park and the Vanacore Track and Field Complex and DeMayo baseball and softball fields at North Haven High School. The total amount that is estimated to be spent on the reconstruction efforts by April 2023 is $6,546,613, according to estimated expenditures in the Nov. 21 meeting minutes from the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Vanacore Track and Football Field
The Vanacore Track and Field Complex at NHHS has been under reconstruction since June 4 and is expected to be completed by spring 2023, according to Lynn Sadowsky, the Director of Public Works. The numerous improvements made at the complex, costing a total of $2.25 million, have been funded by dollars from both ARPA and the state-sponsored Local Capital Improvement Plan (LoCIP).
The new developments at Vanacore include the complete reconstruction of the rubberized track, the transformation of the grass football field to a turf model with a new irrigation system, the reconstruction of the high and long jump pits, and the pavement of walkways and entrance areas.
A Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant totaling $750,000 that was awarded by the state Office of Policy Management to North Haven on Sept. 15, according to the Nov. 21 minutes, was partially to construct the chain-link fencing forming the perimeter of the field at 6 feet in height and 2,0000 linear feet in length, and new multi-purpose 4,800-square-foot building which will be open during youth football games.
“This was built for concessions, football field meetings, storage, bathrooms. Finally, we have bathrooms, because we always had portable toilets,” Sadowsky said.
New grandstands to seat up to 1,000 people are also part of the package and will include accommodations that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
A total of $500,000 from the STEAP grant covered the costs of those projects, while the remaining $250,000 was covered by a Pilot Payment from Quinnipiac University.
While the developments at Vanacore were largely completed by Nov. 30, Sadowsky said all ARPA and LoCIP-funded developments will be completed by around April 2023, “to allow for the football field growth to occur without foot traffic from the track and crossovers which could occur by the public,” considering the newly-laid turf and installed irrigation system.
“When we open up the whole complex, the first time anyone’s actually going to be running or playing on it will be late spring, probably April 1,” she said.
Along with funds from ARPA and the LoCIP, some developments at Vanacore will be realized through spending as part of a $3.5 million capital bonding package, which was approved by the public at a Special Town Meeting on June 6. The approval of the bundle came after plans were made to move forward with reconstruction at Vanacore a month later, and as another way to improve conditions at athletic facilities.
“Once we worked on this, we started to think about what else needs to be done,” Sadowsky. “Now we have this vision, and now what else do we want to do?”
Included in the capital package at Vanacore to finish improvements are the replacement of the scoreboard, the LED lighting system, and new turf field press box and the associated electricity. Sadowsky said the $3.5 million provided in the package gave the Town a “long laundry list” of improvements to make.
“There’s a certain amount of stuff that can be done under the $3.5 million bonding package because, basically, when you go out to a public meeting, and you say, ‘Here’s a list of what we want done,’ once they approve it, that’s what you get to do. That’s your scope of work,” Sadowsky said.
On top of the bonding package and STEAP grant, another state-sponsored bundle may come from the Connecticut Communities Challenges Grant, developed by Governor Ned Lamont in April through the Department. According to Sadowsky, a total of $7 million may come through the Department of Community and Economic Development, making North Haven one of 12 municipalities in the state to receive such a reward. The state and the town will split about 50 percent of the costs for other potential athletic developments
“If we get it, we can do another $3.45 million on top of this,” Sadowsky said.
DeMayo and Junior Varsity Fields
The NHHS DeMayo baseball and softball fields are another major part of the list of improvements under the Capital Bonding package. Both facilities will receive numerous reconstructions and additions that amount to new make-overs in their look and cleanliness.
“At DeMayo Softball Field, we will resize the existing outfield, add new outfield fencing, fence topper, foul poles, and install a warning track,” said Sadowsky. “We will add covered dugouts, dugout storage, a scoreboard, backstop padding, a bullpen, and associated electrical work.”
The softball field will also be reconfigured in a way to resize the infield from the existing fence line, modify base paths, and adjust the irrigation system as necessary.
“At DeMayo Baseball Field, we will add covered dugouts, dugout storage, a scoreboard, bullpen, backstop padding, a bullpen, and associated electrical work. We will also relocate the existing statute and replace signage for the field,” Sadowsky added. “We will relocate the infield area, install new backstop, fencing, foul poles, and players area.”
New sod and a new irrigation system will be put into place, as well as an upgrade to LED field lighting.
The fields adjacent to the DeMayo diamonds intended for junior varsity sports will install a new watering system running from Maple Avenue, “enhancing irrigation to the upper fields and allowing for better field growth for longer play seasons,” Sadowsky said.
These and the many other improvements under the capital package are expected to begin this coming spring, according to the director.
Sadowsky and Phil Diana, the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds for North Haven Public Schools, said all the recent and future improvements are to demonstrate the town’s commitment to all athletics, as attractive, accessible, recreational sites for in-town and out-of-town residents, and for them to be safer than before.
“We’re trying to be equal for all sports. We don’t want to lean one way or another,” Diana said. “We’re just trying to incorporate everything, and make it a beautiful place for people who want to move into North Haven to see what we have.”
First Selectman Michael Freda gave his “total support” for these projects when the spending packages they are a part of were brought forward for approval.
“They represent what we are trying to do all over town, and this is to improve the town in every conceivable fashion including improving all services,” he said. “It is my opinion that a strong and vibrant community should offer many outstanding services and amenities for its citizens and I am on a continuous improvement plan to get better myself, and to improve our town.”