Payden, the founder, president and CEO of Payden & Rygel, an investment firm based in Los Angeles that manages more than $106 billion in assets, donated at least $20 million to the project.
“We moved 42,600 tons of dirt to make way for this true field of dreams, Payden Park, and this incredible J.R. Payden Field House,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew J. Conway Jr.
“Joan you created a landmark, but this is more than a landmark. If I were to write a book about this project, I would call it a daughter’s love for her father.”
Speakers also celebrated the legacy of the sports facility’s namesake, Payden’s late father Joseph R. Payden.
He played varsity football at Derby High School and was valedictorian of the Class of 1915. Payden went on to study at Yale, before becoming a first lieutenant in the Royal Air Force during World War I.
State Sen. George Logan, state Rep. Kara Rochelle and former state representative Linda Gentile all attended Saturday’s event.
The police honor guard, Derby High School choir and band opened the ceremony and all Derby student-athletes benefiting from Payden’s generosity were represented.
When Joan Payden spoke, she talked about her father’s love for Derby High School and credited Conway, school district business manager Mark Izzo, and Dan Wilson of Turner Construction for the care showed while overseeing the project.
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“The three of them made this happen, which I think is pretty extraordinary,” she said.
“This is truly a great gift to all of us from a kind, caring, family loving woman named Joan Payden,” Izzo said. “Joan repeatedly stated that this is one of the most important projects in her entire life.”
“I will always cherish the phone calls with Joan asking why there weren’t more people working on the project,” Izzo said.
Payden said her firm opened a new office in Italy last year and photos from the Derby project will adorn the walls of its board room.
“I just wanted to let you know, you’re all global,” she said with a smile. “They know about you.”
Mayor Richard Dziekan read a proclamation from he and Board of Alderman/Alderwomen declaring Saturday Joan Payden Day and presented her with the key to the city.
Derby Board of Education Chairman Jim Gildea, city treasurer Keith McLiverty, Payden’s cousin Meg Lampazzi, and master of ceremonies Jack Walsh all took turns at the podium.
When it came time to cut the ribbon in front of the new field house, Payden did the honors.
She paid for the 18,000 square-foot field house, the baseball/softball field (Payden Park), and the press box at DeFilippo Field, the multi-purpose field next door.
A $3 million state grant paid for the multi-purpose field, along with a new track and bleachers.
Not everyone was reveling in the day’s festivities.
Beyond the fence around the baseball field, neighborhood protestors picketed on Chatfield Street.
About a dozen people are suing the city and the contractors who built the multi-purpose field, saying proper erosion control measures were not taken during construction.
They said as a result, about $350,000 in mud and flood damage was caused to surrounding houses during a rainstorm in September 2018.
