by Judy Silberstein

(April 3, 2008) Shivering in the surprisingly icy winds, sports supporters and local officials gathered at the Flint Park flag pole on Saturday, March 29 as representatives from Fields for Kids presented Larchmont Mayor Liz Feld with an outsized check for $800,000. The donation will help pay for the new artificial turf field that was under construction across the road. The group will also be contributing $700,000 for renovations at Lorenzen Park and has raised $1,480,000 towards their goal of $1.5 million for Larchmont field projects.

Fields for Kids presented the Larchmont Village Board with a symbolic "check" for $800,000 for the Flint Park renovations. (L-R): Trustees Anne McAndrews and Jim Millstein along with Mayor Liz Feld accepted the check from Kevin Mullaney, Suzanne Despins, Brian Denehy and Paige Denehy.

For many who braved the unseasonal temperatures, the burning question was: When can you play on the new facility? Larchmont Mayor Liz Feld and Mamaroneck Town Supervisor Valerie O’Keeffe had some welcome news: the turf field will be available for some sports activities as early as mid-May. There had been concerns that a Town project to replace a leaking pipe would delay completion of the field for another month, but the old pipe that runs under a corner of the turf will be filled with concrete and left in place to allow the field to open as planned.

“The Town has been great in speeding up its schedule,” said Mayor Feld.

The grass baseball and soccer fields in the eastern quadrant of the park, having undergone months of renovations, will be seeded in a few weeks and will open with new grass, drainage and irrigation in April of 2009.

Mayor Feld hailed the Flint Park project as “a fantastic public-private partnership like you’ve never seen.” She praised Fields for Kids president Jim Hanley for dragging the board to Rye Country Day School to visit “the gold standard” artificial turf fields there and credited Larchmont Village Trustee Jim Millstein for finding the spot to shoe-horn a new field into the park.

The overhaul of the park is expected to run $4.5 million, with funds coming from federal, state and county grants along with donations from Fields for Kids, the Flint Park Conservancy and the sports leagues. (See: County Approves $2.55 Million Grant for Flint Park.) Larchmont taxpayers are kicking in their share, with much of the money coming from bonds authorized in 2004. (See: Larchmont Prepares for $3.2 Million Makeover: Bonds Will Fund 6 Major Capital Improvements.)

Mayor Feld said the project is on schedule and on budget, despite having incurred an additional $330K to remove tons of debris and detritus found under the grass fields, which had once been used as a dump.

The artificial field will have pipes running along its perimeter to channel storm water away from the playing surface and into drainage running to the Long Island Sound.

Anthony Catalano, Larchmont’s consultant with Woodard and Curran, led a tour through the renovations and provided further progress reports: “We are on schedule, we are pleased to say.”

Except for a “few punch list items” and some benches and signage, the nature walk along the water at the back of the park is essentially constructed and planted. New permeable asphalt walkways are almost ready and will allow pedestrian access around the perimeter of the grass fields while also letting water drain into the ground below. Also underway are renovations to the parking lot at Birch Lane (which is also getting a porous asphalt surface). Installation of the new trees, bushes and other landscaping is set for the fall along with work on the parking lot near the American Legion hall.

Anthony Catalano of Woodward and Curran points out the native plantings in the environmental area and the permeable asphalt path that circumnavigates grass fields under renovation.

The current projects expanded on earlier plans for an environmental area and renovated grass fields. The most significant addition is the artificial turf field (which required removal of some tennis courts along with a grove of old trees and a colony of feral cats that has been cared for by community volunteers). Mr. Catalano pointed out how a rethinking of Larchmont’s leaf composting area provided additional open space for the environmental area. The road that runs through the park is being rerouted and partly removed, making room for a picnic area near the American Legion Hall and an expanded grassy area beside the turf field.

Supervisor Valerie O’Keeffe and Mayor Liz Feld, who both grew up in Larchmont, were amazed at the water views that were hidden during their childhoods.

For many on the tour, this was their first sight of the water behind Flint Park, an inlet of the Long Island Sound which for years has been hidden behind chain link fences, dirt berms and mounds of leaves. A combination of crushed rock paths and “wooden” boardwalks (made of recycled plastic) winds along the water, connecting on one side to trails into the Hommocks environmental area and on the other to the asphalt paths that circle Flint Park’s grass ball fields. Two observation decks rise above the marsh and provide further views of the cove and its water birds.

On the way to the environmental area, Mayor Feld pointed out the tall poles and netting that rise behind home base at the grass fields that are still being worked on. “We all realize they’re not a thing of beauty, she commented, “but for safety reasons, we believe we should keep them for now.” She mentioned that more people than ever are expected to be walking behind the fields as they go towards the water or the artificial field. The only parking in that area will be for handicap access. “One of Anthony’s biggest contributions is to make the park as pedestrian friendly and kid friendly as possible,” said Mayor Feld.

In addition to water views, the tour took in the expanded vista from Flint Park towards the Hommocks fields and beyond, which has not been universally applauded. Some park neighbors have complained about losing privacy and forest scenery. Supervisor O’Keeffe observed that she could now see the cupola of Mamaroneck High School rising in the distance like the spires in a picturesque New England village. She also took note of the drab back wall of the Hommocks Ice Rink and suggested some of the new landscaping might be positioned to soften that part of the view. Mayor Feld has said she expects the new plantings, in time, will address many of the esthetic and privacy issues.

 

The Town of New Castle has awarded a contract to build a new soccer field on the Amsterdam Property, which is located on Pines Bridge Road.    The Town had issued a Request for Proposal seeking construction bids from contractors for the development of either a) one natural grass soccer field, plus parking facilities, or b) two natural grass soccer fields, plus parking facilities.   After receiving back the contractors' proposals, the Town has decided to proceed with the construction of one field at this time.  The natural grass soccer field is expected to be under construction during the spring and summer of 2008.  

 

The Amsterdam Property was acquired by the Town of New Castle several years ago from the IBM Corporation, and has been the site a several potential projects including proposed athletic fields and housing facilities.   Various plans and proposals were floated and withdrawn over a several year period.  Finally, New Castle's community leaders recognized that there was a tremendous need for additional recreational facilities, and they made a decision to proceed with this much needed facility.   Congratulations and thanks to all in the New Castle Town Government and Chappaqua soccer community who promoted this project and will see it through to completion.

 

March 2008

The Village of Larchmont, Westchester County, and a local fundraising group named Fields for Kids Larchmont-Mamaroneck are working together to sponsor a project to renovate athletic fields and park facilities at Flint Park and Lorenzen Park, both located in the Village of Larchmont.

 

At Flint Park construction of a new synthetic turf soccer field has begun, and the project should be completed during the spring 2008 season.  At the back of Flint Park, in the area adjacent to Long Island Sound, there is an elaborate improvement project for the waterfront environmental area that will include cleanup and new waterfront trails, benches and plantings.  The adjacent existing grass athletic fields will be renovated with improved drainage and re orientated for improved playability.  At Lorenzen Park, drainage improvements and a second baseball field will be added.

 

Funding for these projects has come principally from the Westchester County Legacy Program, a bond passed by the Village of Larchmont, and local donations collected by Fields for Kids.  Additional specific grants for portions of the project were received from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Flint Park Conservancy.   For more information, see www.fieldsforkidsmamk.org.

 

February 2008

 

 

In July 2005 an all-star cast of officials from the Westchester County Government and the City of White Plains were on hand for the opening ceremonies at a new soccer field at County-owned Saxon Woods Park in White Plains.  Speaking on behalf of all those involved in this much needed project, County Executive Andy Spano, White Plains County Legislator Bill Ryan, Westchester County Parks Commissioner Joe Stout and White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino spoke about the explosive growth in the number of kids and adults playing soccer, and how this facility would be made available to all Westchester adult and youth residents.

 

Located at the intersection of Mamaroneck Avenue and the Hutchinson River Parkway, this facility has already become very popular with adult, school and youth soccer groups.   In addition to the all-weather synthetic turf surface, the field has lights so games can be played in the evenings.  The management and scheduling of this facility will be handled by the White Plains Recreation Department.

 

This project was paid for by the Westchester County Legacy Program, a program announced by Westchester County Executive Andy Spano in 2001.  The Legacy Program is designed to acquire Open Space to add to existing inventories of parkland, and to develop facilities for active recreation for County residents including athletic fields.

 

The adults and kids from the Westchester soccer community extend their congratulations and thanks to all those in the Westchester County Government and the City of White Plains who conceived this project, saw it through to completion and who will manage this facility going forward. 

 

July 2005

 

In September 2006, the Village of Scarsdale opened two new soccer fields at the Crossway Fields complex.  These fields are located on a portion of the former Village Leaf Compost Site. 

 

In 2000, the Village retained Ward Associates, P.C., a Landscape Architects and Engineering firm, to conduct a study of all Scarsdale athletic fields.  The study included the current scheduling of School District, Recreation Department and youth league sports activities.  The information collected was used to create an inventory of existing athletic fields, study the current and future demand for each type of athletic field, and determine where the Village and School District could improve existing or develop new athletic fields to meet increased demand. 

 

The Study recommended several projects at existing fields which were implemented to create immediate improvements in field availability.  New underground drainage systems were installed at the existing Supply and Boulder Brook Lower fields which resulted in increased availability.  An additional softball diamond was installed in the corner of Boulder Brook Lower.  One diseased tree was removed from Greenacres which created enough space for an additional athletic field.  Regrading and the removal of overgrowth in the back of Quaker Ridge resulted in space for another athletic field.  A synthetic turf surface was installed inside the track at Scarsdale High School, financed by a community fundraising drive. 

 

Since the Village was no longer composting leaves on site, it was only using about 2 acres of the 6 acres for leaf collection and transfer each fall.  A plan was developed to reconfigure the site to add a large and a small soccer field and relocate parking.  The Crossway complex now consists of a total of five athletic fields:

 

Crossway #1 and #2 are large baseball fields, with a football/soccer field in the combined outfields

Crossway #3 is a Little League baseball field, with room for a small soccer field in the outfield

Crossway #4 is a large athletic field that can be used for soccer or lacrosse

Crossway #5 is a small soccer field

 

Congratulations and thanks to all in Scarsdale who helped develop these projects and see them through to completion. 

 

Westchester County Opens New Fields at Tibbetts Brook Park In June, Westchester County and the City of Yonkers opened three new synthetic turf soccer fields in Tibbetts Brook Park.   Located at the north end of this Westchester County Park adjacent to the Cross County Parkway, a varsity size soccer field and two smaller 11v11 fields have been built and are now in use.   Two existing baseball fields were also renovated.   Westchester County paid for this project as part of the County’s Legacy Program, which uses County funds to help municipalities create additional recreational facilities.    A second project in Tibbetts Brook Park will involve upgrading athletic fields at the south end of the park. A new synthetic turf field for Gallic Football, a Little League baseball field and an 8v8 youth soccer field will be constructed with a target completion date of Summer 2008.   Congratulations and thanks to all in the Westchester County Government and the Yonkers community who helped promote this project and see it through to successful completion.     June 25, 2007

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