Politics & Government
Press Box At Strong Field Installed Tuesday, Thanks To A Private Donor; Game Scheduled For Sept. 27th
First Selectman Fillmore McPherson said the press box installed Tuesday was paid for with a private donation that came through the Strong Field at the Surf Club group, which is currently conducting a "Finish Strong" campaign.
The Strong Field bleachers are almost done, the press box has been installed and the Daniel Hand High School Tigers are scheduled to play on the field Sept. 27 at 7 p.m., when the team will take on Wilbur Cross.
For this year's schedule of games, see this link on the CIAC website.
First Selectman Fillmore McPherson said the press box installed Tuesday was paid for with a private donation that came through the Strong Field at the Surf Club group, which is currently conducting a "Finish Strong" campaign. He said he did not have information immediately available as to how much it cost.
The Strong Field at the Surf Club group also raised $450,000 for lights, and $195,000 that went towards the cost of the bleachers. Thanks to that donation, the bleachers have been expanded to 2,000 seats, from the 940 seats available before.
The scoreboard, at a cost of $35,000, is being paid thanks to a donation from the town's Exchange Club.
The town has spent a $1 million on the field, including $800,000 from the town's Long Term Capital Maintenance fund, also known as LoCap. An additional $200,000 came from the Strong Field Fund.
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The town also made a special appropriation for $100,000 to help pay for the bleachers. That $100,000 was initially going to come from the LoCap fund, when the town originally planned to just move the existing bleachers. When the town later made a decision to buy new bleachers, town officials determined that it would no longer to appropriate to use the money from the LoCap fund for that purchase.
The town also made $40,000 from the sale of top soil and scrap metal from the site.
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Town officials originally had hoped the field and bleachers would be ready for the first game of the season, on Sept. 11. But, really, nothing went right that night, as it turned out. The Tigers lost to New Canaan, 21-50.
The team, and its fans, are hoping for a better outcome on Sept. 27 against Wilbur Cross. McPherson said he plans to attend.
"Absolutely," he said.
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