Groundbreaking ceremony new era

Athletic Turf Complex for JD

The Springfield Board of Education, in collaboration with the Springfield Town Council, held a groundbreaking ceremony last Friday morning for the new Athletic Turf Complex which will be located on the campus of Dayton High School, 139 Mountain Ave.

School and town officials, along with students from all of the Springfield schools, celebrated the commencement of construction for the Athletic Turf Complex.

Springfield Mayor Ziad Shehady, Springfield Superintendent Michael Davino, Spencer Gary, Alex Gary and Springfield Board of Education members Irwin Sablowsky and Jackie Shanes break the ground that will soon be the new Athletic Turf Comples at Dayton High School.

“We are embarking on a new era for Springfield sports in creating an athletic complex that the entire Springfield community can be proud of and benefit from,” said BOE member, Irwin Sablosky.

“We envision the new athletic complex to become a focal point of the town where residents will gather to cheer on scholastic and recreational sports and where our instructional programs in Health and Physical Education can be enhanced and expanded.”

The Complex, which will be for all of the Springfield community to use and is estimated to be completed next fall, will include a football-soccer field, five tennis courts, 500-seat bleachers, a 1,200 square foot concession stand with storage and restrooms and lights for evening events.

The contractor for the Athletic Turf Complex is Rochelle Contracting and the turf is being provided by FieldTurf, Inc.

Mayor Ziad Shehady added, “For many, this has been a dream that is long overdue. This year, the Springfield Board of Education and the Township Committee took real, tangible steps to making that dream a reality.

“Achieving this goal would not have been possible without the determination and relentless willpower of dedicated community members and the groundbreaking is a textbook example of shared services and partnership between two government entities, Springfield Public Schools and the Township of Springfield.

“I am thrilled to be a part of this!”