Community rallies to raise funds for high school field

Date: 9/6/2011

Sept. 5, 2011

By Katelyn Gendron

Assistant Managing Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW — The failure of the Proposition 2 1/2 override to fund $330,000 needed to upgrade the high school’s track and field has not stopped some members of the community from seeing them through.

Various booster clubs have spearheaded an effort to raise the $96,000 required for the field’s necessary lighting upgrades, one of nine projects included in the $330,000 price tag. After being moved back 40 feet to accommodate the wider turf and track, the existing lights no longer provide enough illumination, according to School Superintendent Gordon Smith.

“We were optimistic that we would be able to play the larger ball sports as we were working toward the upgrade,” Smith said, adding that the assumption proved incorrect when light readings were taken on Aug. 2. “We took light meter measurements throughout 72 spots on the field. Our average is roughly 23.5 footcandles and the industry standard for high school sports is somewhere between 30 and 35 and that was certainly a depressing moment [to know we couldn’t utilize the field at night].”

All night games are now being rescheduled during daylight hours, he noted.

Thus far, the booster clubs have raised $15,000 for the lighting upgrades as well as the $8,700 required for the field’s logo, according to Tom Kaye, co-chair of the high school football booster association.

“All the football home games are now on Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. Boys soccer, girls soccer and field hockey all will have to play during the week after school. With varsity games this early, unfortunately many parents work and won’t be able to attend their daughter or son’s games. All games have to be played before dusk,” Lynn Fazzino, co-chair of the high school football booster association, said.

Kaye emphasized that the facility is not just for student-athletes but meant for the community as a whole and as such, various individuals and businesses have stepped up to donate funds. “It’s our town, our team, our community and our field,” he added.

“We were all frustrated when the [Proposition 2 1/2] override didn’t go through but we want to accentuate the positive that we have this great field and track for our athletes and are working toward a solution,” Smith said. “The booster clubs have been fantastic. Since June 28 [when the override failed to pass], they have been shoulder-to-shoulder with us to make those [upgrades] happen.”

Additional upgrades include new track and field equipment, a 500-seat bleacher, resurfacing of the track, a four-foot high fence around the track and three water cannons to wet the field.

Tax-deductible donations can be submitted in the form of a check made out to East Longmeadow High School with “lighting for the high school field” written in the notation box and mailed to Kaye at 262 Millbrook Drive, East Longmeadow, MA 01028 or to Fazzino at 38 Country Club Drive, East Longmeadow, MA 01028.

Those who’d like to volunteer their time to help the fund-raising effort may contact Kaye at 525-3774 or Fazzino at 531-2941.