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The New Canaan High School Booster Club, New Canaan Youth Football, New Canaan Soccer Association, New Canaan Lacrosse, and New Canaan Field Hockey recently teamed up to announce the fund, according to a press release.
The fund "marks the beginning of a capital campaign to realize a vision of a complete and enhanced sports complex for all our youth and high school athletes," according to the release. The Ram Spirit Fund is a multi-phase project that will "seek to fund and execute its first phase, creating a turf field at the existing grass practice fields next to the Watertower Field by June 2014," according to the release.
"Originally imagined in 2006, a plan to increase field usage by adding turf was created because of the challenges of all kinds of weather conditions," said the release. "The existing Watertower turf field was installed with a long-term vision for further enhancements on the horizon. Since 2006, our youth sports programs have increased greatly and almost 3000 boys and girls are participating in youth sports in New Canaan each year. Over 51 percent of our high school students are playing on a sports team and utilizing our practice and game fields."
The groups began planning on the second turf field last spring, and the proposition was "met warmly from town officials," according to the release.
"I'm a huge proponent of this," Selectman Nick Williams said at the July 9 Board of Selectmen meeting. "The issue is: We have a capacity constraint issue on our fields, and a lot of that is due to the girls, the explosion in (girls') lacrosse and field hockey.”
Phase Two would provide enhancements to Dunning Stadium, including a new press box and bleachers. Phase Three would add new locker rooms and a fitness center for the athletes.
For more information on the project, visit the Ram Spirit Fund website.
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