Sports
Mamaroneck School District Sets Mark for a Groundbreaking Year
School and community athletes celebrate the renovation of Memorial Field.
After a decade of continuous preparation and planning, Mamaroneck High School's Memorial Field will finally begin renovation this year. To celebrate the expansion of a new multi-sport turf field, the Mamaroneck School District held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday afternoon.
The MHS Memorial Field Project 2010 was an ambitious fundraising effort between local officials, Fields for Kids, and youth sports leagues who understood the importance of the recreational turf for years to come.
Although it was a long road to eventually reach the groundbreaking celebration, the school was fortunate enough to have support from across the community. Assemblyman George Latimer secured a $250,000 grant for the fund which went towards the prior $500,000 that was voted on in 2004.
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"I'm glad to announce that renovation work will commence on Memorial Field with no additional cost to our taxpayers beyond what they approved over six years ago," announced Linnet Tse of the Mamaroneck Board of Education.
Phase one of the project is expected to be complete by mid-October and includes the addition of a new turf field, bleachers, and press box. The demolition will be done by Mamaroneck resident Joe Naclerio who donated the services of his company, Greenline Industries.
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Only beginning his tenure last month as the district's new superintendent, Robert Shaps was on hand and spoke at the ceremony, reflecting on the progress ahead for the athletic department and the community who will be encouraged to use the field too.
To commemorate the traditional groundbreaking dig, a shovel was used that was from the groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 3, 1955, for the Mamaroneck High School addition. Attached to the shovel was a trowel that was used at the original construction of the building on September 24, 1924.
Student athletes were on hand to celebrate and MHS alumni also showed up, including Billy Van Heusen who went on to a nine-year professional career as a punter and wide receiver for the Denver Broncos.
"I remember back when we were playing and the dirt, dust, mud - there was no grass on this field." said Van Heusen. "Even in those days, 45 years ago, it was barely tolerable so it's really great to see them come together and fix it up."
