R.A.D. Sports Awarded Phase 1 Strong Field Project For $899,000

A contract for the first phase of the Strong Field project has been awarded to R.A.D. Sports for $899,000, said First Selectman Fillmore McPherson.

McPherson said R.A.D. Sports, of Massachusetts, was one of seven companies bidding on the project, and submitted the lowest bid, which was accepted at a special meeting of the Board of Selectmen on Monday morning. The highest bid was $1,088,000, McPherson said.

The first phase will include grading, site prep, lights, electrical work, and lighting installation. The second phase, which will be done separately, will include the turf field and installation of the turf field.

McPherson said R.A.D. Sports is expected to start work before the end of January. If all goes well, weather permitting, then the work could be done as early as the end of March, he said. "If we get snow like we did two years ago, that might slip," he said. "The field could be ready for use in early April, if all goes well." Again, he added, inclement weather could affect that schedule.

McPherson said the bids for the turf field have not yet gone out.

The $899,000 will come in part from The The Strong Center At The Surf Club organization's donations and in part from the town, McPherson said.

So far, $450,000 has been donated by the organization to cover the cost of the lights and installation of the lights, he said. An additional $1 million is currently available from the town, including $800,000 from the long-range capital account and $200,000 from the Harold Strong Reserve Fund, he said.

The goal is the Strong Field At The Surf Club organization is ultimately to have a turf-field multi-purpose athletic park and softball field, both lit. In addition the plan is to have two field houses, a concession stand and an entry plaza.

Editor's Note: This story was corrected at 5:17pm on Tuesday, Jan. 8 to accurately reflect the location of the R.A.D. Sports and to clarify the scope of the work.