Paver Stones Will Help Pave Way For The Strong Center

Supporters of the Strong Center can now buy paver stones as part of a fundraising project for the new athletic field and arts and entertainment center project.

Tim Nye, along with Coach Steve Filipone, has been tasked with generating interest in the Strong Center and they hope to do so by selling personalized paver stones which will become a permanent part of the entrance plaza to the new facility.

The project, Nye says, is not only enormous, but is also “one that we want the whole community to be very, very proud of.” He adds, “people look at Strong Field and think of athletics … and they should, but we want this to be a focal point that the whole community can be proud of. It can be used for arts and entertainment, athletics, cultural events and concerts.”

This is a true grassroots effort. As people purchase plaza stones, hopefully they will refer others to the project and others will buy as well.

“We want this to be totally a community-based project that everybody is proud of,” he said.

The plaza stones are 12 inches by 18 inches, about an inch and a half thick, and granite. 

“Once you purchase a stone, you have the ability to have it engraved with whatever you want it to say.”

Each stone costs $500. Explains Nye, “Some people will say $500 is an awful lot and it certainly is, but what we want people to look at is the overall scope of the project and be proud to have their name or a relative’s name on it and be part of making this project come true.” 

He hopes the message spreads by word of mouth. Thus, there is an incentive for referrals. Nye explains, “If you buy a stone and you tell your neighbor and they buy a stone, you would get a $100 certificate to  restaurant with the referral.”

The initial goal was to sell 1,000 stones but those involved in the project began to think that this target might be a bit aggressive initially; presently the goal is to sell a minimum of 500 plaza stones. Even when 500 is reached, orders will still be taken.

“This is the initial phase. There will be plenty of space to add stones once we go along throughout the years,” he explains. 

Nye feels that if sales are good, ground will be broken within the next six months.

“Our goal is to have this project ready to roll (meaning the first event) in September 2012,” he said.

“This particular project really allows many people to be part of this,” he says and adds, “Even though $500 is a lot of money, if you look at it as this is where my children participate in youth sports, this is where we have concerts in the summer, I think I can come up with $500 to support this.” 

The Surf Club, he says, is “the focal point for Madison throughout the year. The first thing people see is the complex. Right now it’s a little old and tired. It needs to be upgraded and we want to be proud of what we have down there. I think everybody in town can say that somehow that complex has touched their lives – through a sporting event, a cultural event, an arts and entertainment event – or just by being down at the Surf Club and seeing how beautiful it is.”

Strong Field, he points out, “is always rated the best rated Friday night football field in the state. But, unfortunately, it’s based on the setting and not on the facility. We need to bring the facility up to match the setting.”

If you are interested in purchasing a paver, please visit www.strongcentersurfclub.org or contact Tim Nye by email at nyet1@sbcglobal.net or by phone at (512) 638-6994 or Steve Filippone by email at filippones@madison.k12.ct.us  or by phone at (203) 530-5634. Paypal, credit and debit cards are accepted.  

There will also be a diagram on the website so that purchasers can see where their stone will be located.