By Jayde Levesque
If all goes well, football players at Westport’s Staples High School will be playing on synthetic turf in the fall.
The Board of Selectmen Wednesday night approved two contracts for synthetic turf fields. Shown are (l-r) (seated) Selectmen Shelly Kassen, Gordon Joseloff, and John Izzo, and (standing) Verne Sedlaceck, Westport Field of Dreams Committee, amd Lee De Freitas, Eastern regional manager, Sportexe. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dan Gelman for WestportNow.com
The Board of Selectmen Wednesday night approved two contracts that will make that possible.
One contract is with the Sportexe, a synthetic turf firm with U.S. headquarters in Round Rock, Texas. The other is with the Westport Football Association of Connecticut, acting on behalf of the Field of Dreams Committee.
The committee has agreed to raise the $1.5 million needed to complete two fields – and the town agreed to front the funds.
The “Field of Dreams” project began in 2004 when a group of parents and coaches agreed the town was in need of better playing fields. The main goal of the organization was to restore four of Westport’s fields with artificial turf.
Parks and Recreation Director Stuart McCarthy told the board enough funds have been pledged to get the Staples football field ready for the fall season. He said he is confident the committee will raise enough money to move along with a second field.
Verne Sedlacek, chair of the Field of Dreams Committee, said so far there is about $435,000 in the bank.
He said they need about $600,000 more to reach the goal of funding the work on two of Westport’s fields, the Staples High School football field, and the Wakeman Soccer Field B.
“There is really no obligation to raise the entire amount for the town,” said McCarthy. “But I have no doubt they will meet their obligation.”
Sedlacek said there are already 190 names of donors who have contributed between $5,000 and $100,000 not including businesses such as local banks, car dealerships, or law firms.
Those who have donated over $1,000 will receive a brick in their name, and the larger donations will be recognized by a plaque, he said. The committee plans fund-raisers and has set up a Web site to accept donations at www.westportfieldofdreams.com
The new turf will benefit football, field hockey, boy’s and girl’s soccer and lacrosse.
According to Lee DeMonico, a member of the Field of Dreams Committee, the artificial turf will not only be safer than grass but it will be geese-free.
First Selectman Gordon Joseloff said some would argue this is a town expense and it should be funded by the town. But he said the town appreciates the efforts of the “Field of Dreams” committee.
Selectman John Izzo said a project that serviced Westport’s fields was long overdue.
“You should all be commended for going out and doing something about it,” he said. “It’s terrific.”
