Fields Update: VOL Leading; Schools Getting Back on Track

by Judy Silberstein

(October 18, 2007) When Fields for Kids convened its second community roundtable on Saturday October 13 to discuss what was being done to improve local playing fields, the big news was that Village of Larchmont had already begun renovating its Flint Park natural grass baseball field ahead of schedule and was about to hold a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new artificial turf field that is part of an overall park overhaul funded largely by a $2.55M Legacy grant from Westchester County. Mamaroneck Village also offered a promising update on a plan, likely to be approved by January, to relocate the tennis bubble at Harbor Island and free up space for an additional field.

But the greatest interest came from the Mamaroneck School Board’s announcement that it was launching a series of public meetings to guide a decision on how to proceed with proposals that could add turf fields at Central School and at Memorial (football) and Manchester (baseball) fields at the high school. If implemented, the plans would go a long way towards accommodating most school athletic programs on district grounds, thus greatly relieving pressure on community fields. The ideas were not brand new – they had surfaced in February - but the defeat of the school budget last May had distracted the board until now. (For plan specifics see: Schools Weigh Two Options for Adding Turf Fields.)

The district spent the summer conducting feasibility studies on two proposals, and is ready to present specifics to the community and begin getting feedback at a school board meeting on November 13. There will be additional meetings on November 27 (on financing the project) and on December 4, when the board hopes to make a decision.

School Board President Amy Levere and Board Member Linnet Tse outlined a series of public hearings on proposals to add turf fields at Central School and Mamaroneck High School.

Partcipants From Across the Community

The 47 attendees at the roundtable included the elected leaders of Mamaroneck Village, Larchmont Village and the Town of Mamaroneck, as well as several administrators and board members from the Mamaroneck Schools. There were also representatives of the local recreation departments, sports leagues, and conservancy groups. NY Assemblyman George Latimer moderated, as he had at the first roundtable in March.

The first gathering had been to gain consensus on the problem and “brain storm” solutions to alleviate field shortage. This second meeting was to report progress and focus on further solutions.

More Gains

In addition to the “big news” there were other positive reports. Town of Mamaroneck, with the smallest amount of open space, was contributing to the Flint Park project by sharing some land adjacent to Flint Park that is required for the new turf field. Larchmont Mayor Liz Feld thanked Mamaroneck Town Supervisor Valerie O’Keeffe and the Town Board for their support. She said Westchester County Legislator Judy Myers had been essential to getting the Legacy grant approved. Fields for Kids president Jim Hanley congratulated Mayor Feld on the extent and speed of progress achieved and also announced his group had raised over $1M towards the Flint Park project and another at Lorenzen..

Assemblyman George Latimer served as moderator, keepiing the agenda on track.

Going forward, each municipality had some additional possibilities – some more advanced than others - for adding field or playing time in the near or long term.

Village of Larchmont is working with the Little Leagues to improve and add capacity at Lorenzen Park which is part of a swap for space at Flint Park. Mamaroneck Village Mayor Phil Trifiletti continued to caution that plans for two fields and a track at Taylors Lane are at least two to four-years away, due to dealing with environmental concerns and water leakage from the landfill there. Any move requires approval from slow-moving federal and state agencies. He was more upbeat about having found extra practice space at Harbor Island by moving a light pole. The schools have also asked their field consultant to investigate alternative surfaces for the asphalt playgrounds at Chatsworth and Murray, which had already been slated for renovation as part of the next 5-year capital plan.

New Ideas

There was also opportunity for participants to raise additional ideas and get instant feedback from the many decision-makers present.

On a request from Town Councilman David Fishman, who is also president of the Little League, Mamaroneck Town Recreation Commissioner Jim Druker said he would consider allowing young kickball players to schedule early morning games at Memorial Park, which is now on a “first-come” basis and often scooped up by for-profit soccer programs. In response to complaints that the Hommocks Fields appear to require too much “rest,” Town Recreation Supervisor Jill Fisher explained that the sand-based soils are temperamental and deteriorate rapidly if overused.. However, she said the Town would consider opening the fields to “little kids” and their stick sports, who are less likely than the “big kids” to create harmful divots.

After three hours of reports and dialogue the school district and the municipal officials left with thier “to do lists.” In addition, the Fields for Kids organization had its list – which included continuing to raise funds and preparing for the major effort that may be needed to support the Mamaroneck School Board’s initiatives.

Thanks to Jennifer Conley for her assistance in reporting on the Roundtable.

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