Westport’s girl athletes have joined forces on the Tame the Hill Campaign, a $165,000 private fundraiser to install safer access to Ginny Parker Field used for Staples High School field hockey and lacrosse.
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Plans call for terraced bench seating for spectators, stairways, path lighting and low maintenance landscaping on the hillside overlooking the field. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Organizers say each year about 500 Westport girls ages 7 through 18, as well as visiting teams use the field.
To date, 45 percent of the funds have been raised, and boosters are in their final push, so that a local construction company can begin the project in June and have it completed by August, campaign organizers say.
The architectural design by Franzen and Associates and engineering plans by Redniss and Mead already have been approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The project includes terraced bench seating for spectators, stairways, path lighting and low maintenance landscaping on the hillside overlooking the field, coordinators say.
The privately funded campaign is being coordinated by Staples High School’s field hockey and girls lacrosse teams, and Westport Field Hockey and PAL’s girls lacrosse teams.
According to campaign organizers, in 2007, 20 feet of the bordering hillside was removed and a 15-foot retaining wall erected.
A rendering of what the new hillside will look like. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed graphic
However, accommodations were not made for descending the 40-degree slope, nor for spectators to sit. Since then, they say, the condition of the hill has deteriorated and has become a hazard.
“My daughter’s grandparents would love to come to watch her play field hockey and lacrosse, but they feel unsafe perched on the wooden guardrail.” said parent John McNicholas.
Ginny Parker Field, a turf field at Staples, is named for the school’s long time coach Virginia “Ginny” Parker and dedicated to Westport’s female athletes.
Tame the Hill accepts contributions on its website TametheHill.org or by check mailed to Tame the Hill/Westport Field Hockey, P.O. Box 92, Westport, Conn. 06880. For further information, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
