Softball Families Support Turf Fields Project

In January 2011, the council voted to move forward with the Madison Recreation Center Turf Fields project. After years of discussion and debate, we finally had action and a path forward. Most of the council members who included in their campaign platforms a promise with regards to playing fields for our children lived up to their word.

Since that vote was taken, we’ve heard from some of our neighbors who don’t feel the project should proceed. Reasons include it’s not the right time, we don’t have the money, turf fields are dangerous, we have not consulted with everyone on the overall project, we don’t have a master plan, we need a time out, we are going too fast. We don’t agree.  In fact, we wanted to take this opportunity to endorse the project.  

The Madison youth softball program has grown by 25% over the past 3 seasons.  This year, 337 players are competing on 29 teams with the help of 141 volunteer Mom and Dad softball coaches.  We’ve connected our older players with their peers in Chatham and Summit and are a part of a three-town league with 24 5th/6th and 7th/8th grade teams playing softball.  We’re keeping the MJS and Green Village softball fields busy six days a week for the next two months.   We also added the $20 field use fee to our registration this year; and sent a check for $6,740 to the Madison Athletic Foundation to help kick off the fields project. In 2010, we invested over $8,000 to redo the MJS Softball Field in support of both the youth sports and the MJS Softball program.

We believe that youth sports are about more than just kids playing ball. It’s about families staying connected. It’s about the Moms, Dads and grandparents who coach, umpire or just come cheer on the players. It can be hard to stay connected with one’s kids these days; youth sports can make a small difference in that challenge. Good fields help make that possible.

With the impending sale of the Green Village complex and fields, Madison softball faces an uncertain future without new fields. We have the players, we have the coaches. We need the new field complex to become reality. We wanted to make it clear that we are in support of the council’s plan for the fields’ project. We've heard from a small vocal group who are NOT in support of the project. The following Madison Softball families support the project:

Tom and Tricia Abruzzo, 52 Maple Avenue
James and Jodi Bartie, 42 Hillcrest Road
Suzanne & Andrew Bassolino, 14B Belmont Avenue
Henry and Tammy Bisco, 34 Niles Avenue
Bob Boyle, 4 South Oak Court
Mike & Wendy Brett, 5 Hillcrest Road
Lewis and Joyce Brown, 6 Douglas Avenue
Matt & Wendy Bruhn, 21 Maple Avenue
Kevin Brundage, 18 Barnsdale Road
Mark and Laura Burgess, 9 Wisteria Court
Maureen & Tom Byrne, 49 Albright Circle
Colyn Camp, 221 Greenwood Avenue
Tim & Clare Carmichael, 7 Tracy Lane
Joe & Amy Caruso, 19 Roscoe Avenue
Dave and Penny Carver, 29 Belleau Avenue   
Tom and Maureen Coultas, 74 Barnsdale Road
Russ and Angie Culin, 11 West Lane
Anne & Dick Davidson, 22 Surrey Lane
Gary DeBiasse, 18 Keep Street.
Marylou & John Demakos, 1 Albright Circle
Nicholas and Dorothy DePierro, 20 Crestwood Drive
Lisa and Chuck Ellis, 46 Brittin Street
John and Kelly Entz, 10 Beech Avenue
Lori  Epstein, 60 Garfield Avenue
Joseph Falco, 50 Dellwood Drive
Mike & Christine Gilfillan, 7 Shepherd Lane
Michelle and Bruce Goodwin, 17 Surrey Lane
Joe Granato & Dana D'Amico, 48 Brooklake Road
Lisa and Jeffrey Hall, 285 Woodland Road
Frank and Karen Iannarone, 17 Oxford Lane
Sharon Kean, 2 Delbarton Drive 
Jack and Ellen Kranefuss, 49 Longview Avenue
Nora & Barry LeGros, 25 Hillview Avenue
Richard and Elaine Leu, 15 Dean Street
John & Amanda Loughran, 56 Union Hill Road
Paul Lozier, 31 Chelsea Court
Ray Massaro, 3 Union Ave
Anthony and Lynn Martine, 10 Wyndehurst Drive
Tim & Liz McHale, 92 Samson Avenue
Michael and Danielle Miller, 30 Canterbury Road
Thomas and Jo-Ann Minogue, 51 Green Village Road
Dawn & Ken Neville, 8 Serpico Road
Bobby and LeeAnn O'Donnell, 78 Brittin Street
Joseph Profaci, 67 Central Avenue
John and Laura Prout, 3 Wilson Lane
Ted and Sheila Rostiac, 32 Wayne Boulevard
Lisa & Doug Sanderson, 21 Barnsdale Road
Mia and Bill Scavone, 25 Ardsleigh Drive
Mike Schwenk and Jeanne McGovern, 303 Woodland Road
Eric and Maria Slabaugh, 28 Stafford Drive
Karin & George Szotak, 9 Oak Court
Michael and Cari Tierney, 38 Grove Street
Eric & Christine Torkelson, 104 Garfield Avenue
Richard Vaccaro, 8 Fletcher Place
Jerry Vezza, 8 Wisteria Ct
Christopher & Pamela Yousey, 22 Dogwood Drive
Bob and Dawn Weck, 4 Beech Avenue
Rob and Debbie Welter, 232 Kings Road
Jack and Amy Wilson, 86 Greenwood Avenue