Derby schools want permission to do a “feasibility study” to determine how to improve the athletic fields around the high school and middle school campuses.
School officials want to install an artificial turf football field along with a new, eight-lane running track. Right now there’s a grass field with a gravel track around it. The track can’t be used for track meets.
A price tag was not discussed, but at a Derby Aldermen subcommittee meeting Tuesday, Superintendent Matthew Conway said the improvements could be funded through state bonding. He said he has been talking about the issue with state Rep. Theresa Conroy to get the issue in front of the state bond (borrowing) commission later this year.
Conroy represents Derby and Seymour in Hartford.
Last July the commission authorized the state to borrow $1.8 million to install artificial turf and new bleachers at Seymour High School.
But before any of that happens, a feasibility study has to be done to figure out how to proceed. The study could cost $7,500, and the issue could be on the agenda of the city’s tax board Monday.
The city owns the athletic fields used by the schools in Derby.
The project, if it happens, could require a major reconfiguration of the various baseball and softball fields behind Derby Middle School, between Derby Neck Library and Chatfield Street.
A softball field could be moved up next to the Little League field at the top of Nutmeg Avenue, next to Derby High School.
Or a new field could be built behind the Bradley School in east Derby.
Those scenarios, however, are a bit of guesswork at this point. The feasibility study will flesh out which scenario makes sense.
The school district also wants to replace the field house next to the football field. It’s ancient and isn’t ADA-compliant by a long shot.
Conway said he plans to talk to everyone with a stake in the athletic fields, which ranges from Derby Little League to Pop Warner to the Board of Aldermen.
“This is very preliminary — there are many things we need to think about and consider,” he said.
Alderman Carmen DiCenso, a former Derby High School football coach, liked what he heard.
“It’s long overdue,” he said.
Great idea.My big concern is the field house.Why not either remodel or knock down and build a new field house before we fix the fields..When was the last time you went in the bathrooms????They are so old and crummy. Please do something about this problem first
Although a long-shot premise due to state bonding sources drying up due to already massive state bonding debt, Superintendent Matthew Conway appears hopeful that the improvements could be funded through state bonding.
I applaud the Superintendent for taking the bull by the horns, but given that these fields are owned by the City and administered by Parks and Recreation for the use of many different organizations, shouldn’t Parks and Rec be heading this?
For an earlier study on this issue check out the study that was conducted jointly by Parks & Rec, the Board of Education and the Board of Aldermen http://electronicvalley.org/derby/study/study.htm.
We must wait until the city votes to
spend $7500 for a feasibility study before pursuing accountability. It’s all hearsay at this point.
@Jack Walsh: If we already made a joint study involving Parks & Recreation,the Board of Education and the Board of Aldermen, why are we spending another $7500 on a new feasibility study?
Did the results of the past study “fall between the cracks?”
The study referenced (http://electronicvalley.org/derby/study/study.htm)and the proposals developed were done about 15 years ago and much has changed since then. However, it would make sense to review what might still be relevant instead of starting from scratch. That is particularly true for some of the plans for the fields in and around the high school.There were several concepts presented along with some cost estimates that could serve as a starting point for any new planning.
It was particularly relevant that the study done back then was a project of all three groups who arrived at a consensus on the needs and potential solutions. Since that time however, fields have been built at Witek Park, a new Greenway was built, Parks & Recreation took over the administration and programming of the Derby Veterans community Center. and a new Middle School was built.
Taxpayers in Derby I believe would like to see their tax dollars spent on actual overhauling of our athletic facilities which everyone knows exist rather than $7500 in feasibility studies that do not result in any direct physical improvement or replacement of our run down athletic fields and field house. Growing costly
city hall studies may be masking indecision delay by some elected officials.
47500