The condition of the football field at the school complex is often a cause for discussion. For instance, during a Board of Education (BOE) meeting earlier this year, Athletic Director Damian Frassinelli said the field is worn out due to overuse, as it is also home to other sports, like field hockey and soccer. Add practices into the mix, and the grass takes a beating. The topic came up again at the December 16, 2024, BOE meeting when Chair Sara Kelley told the board a community member shared information about grants that could be used toward a turf field at the school complex.
This information was then shared with First Selectman Bill Morrison, as this would be a town-run project, not a BOE project. She said the grants would not cover the full, though the town could fundraise. Replacing the field with turf would allow for increased use of the facility, including for youth football programs.
Kelley wanted to know if the board thought this was worth looking into and if the BOE would want to be a part of the committee to oversee the project. Kelley suggested there might also be grants the schools could apply for separate from the town.
Board member Eileen Bartlett said, “It’s something we need to start looking into as quickly as possible. Our field is a mess. The kids are playing on it and getting injured. We’re constantly having to try to fix it. And we’re the only field for our field hockey team in the league that does not have a turf field to play on, and we cannot cut the grass to the correct length for them to play.”
Aaron Hoffman talked about going to Olympic Field in September, calling that field a disaster. He said, “It’s a constant, constant effort to get that field even in mildly playable condition.” He said the turf would benefit the entire community and allow the town to monetize the field at the school complex by requiring other towns to pay to use it.
Kelley added that if the field is turned over to turf, this could also be the time to redo the track. No action was taken.