Reconstruction of the Athletic Fields Underway

5/8/07

By Jennifer Ingram
Critic Staff

The construction of a new field and an amphitheater, and improvements to the varsity and intramural fields are in the works. It is hoped that the intramural field will be completed by the fall of 2008, and that the varsity field will be completed by the fall of 2009.

“The varsity field which is located closest to the gym needs to be overhauled. There have been no improvements made to the field in nearly 20 years,” Chris Ummer, Director of Athletics said.

At this point in time, the plan is for the varsity field to be overhauled and then to have grass reseeded.

The varsity field has taken a beating due to the fact that there are so many events that happen on the field. In addition to games, class graduations, practices for soccer and summer camps all take place on the field.

The graduation ceremonies are rough on the fields because of the tent that is set up and the thousands of people that walk across the field. Last year the tent was on the varsity field for nearly a month due to the fact that the tent had to be dried before it could be taken down and it kept raining so the tent never was able to dry completely.

When a certain area of any space does not get precipitation for nearly a month it does a certain amount of damage to the surface. In fact, according to Chris Ummer, the field was in such bad condition in the fall that the varsity soccer team’s practices were relocated to the Lyndon Town School.

Currently the intramural field, which is located near the Stonehenge parking lot, is under reconstruction, and receiving the long overdue improvements. The new field will be located near the intramural field near the Stonehenge parking lot. Already, trees where the new field is planned to be located are being cleared. The intramural field homes the rugby, soccer and lacrosse teams, According to Tom Archer, the plan is that all of the fields will be regulation size fields. “I have my fingers crossed that the new field and the intramural field will be ready in the fall of 2008 so that the sports can be played as scheduled,” Ummer said.

With more regulation fields available, the utilization will be spread out and the fields will be in better condition.