Stage Set For Manchester Cricket Field Construction

MANCHESTER, CT — Construction on a new cricket field in the Roberston Park area of Manchester could begin in early July.

The Manchester Planning Department is in receipt of an erosion and sedimentation control plan application for the field. It is slated to be discusssed by the Planning and Zoning Commission Monday, planning department officials said.

The field is located at a parcel that stretches through 115 and 45 North School St., according to the plans. It is essentially on the site of a former skate park that was taken out for the field.

Planning officials said the land will be first graded, then seeded and the cricket field will be fashioned after the grass grows. There is no posted timetable for play to begin on the field as of Wednesday, but initial hopes were that it could be used by the fall.

Planning officials described the work as "a lot of earth movement," followed by seeding.

The elimination of the skate park has drawn the ire of local skateboard enthusiasts, who circulated a petition calling for a replacement. Planning officials said a potential new skate park is being discussed among town leaders.

The cricket field will be oval-shaped and measure about 510 feet at its largest diameter. The distance at the traditional cut-out section for the the wickets — from bowler to batter — is 22 yards.

A local cricket club will call the field home but it will be also available foir public use, officials said.