Briarcliff's Latest Addition: A New Sports Field

Let the games begin! Although these precise words were not actually uttered at the village’s new ball field dedication, the passion was surely felt.

Local luminaries, government representatives and area residents—including rising soccer start—were on hand Wednesday morning for the dedication of the long-awaited new sports field. The completion of the ribbon cutting ceremony marked the official transfer of the field from to the village. 

The Club, developers of the 59-acre senior living community, hosted the ceremony.

Jamie Sabatier, a Briarcliff Manor resident who coaches the soccer teams of both his son and daughter, was enthusiastic about the new sports ground.

“I think it’s wonderful to have a new field for the town. We have a lack of good fields.” said Sabatier.

Mayor William Vescio, who took part in the ceremony, was clearly pleased the village was able to take possession of the property ahead of schedule.

“This is great.  We were able to get them [The Club] to build the field before they were required to. Part of our negotiation was to put the field in early and do water improvements ahead of what was required," he explained.

The water improvements include the installation of a hydro-pneumatic pressure system to replace the current water tower, which keeps water pressure up at a higher elevation. When the new water system goes live, the transition to the new system will be transparent.

While the village boasts other soccer grounds, they have been used extensively over the past few years.

“The building the fields early was a huge coup for the village since we need more fields," Vescio said. “Now there is an opportunity for the [existing] fields to rest with the introduction of a new field.”

The host of the dedication ceremony agreed.

Matt Phillips, founder and chief executive of The Club’s parent group, IDG, had the honor of cutting the ribbon.

“Having this ball field will be good for the village and helps our sales," he stated. "It’s a good public and private partnership.”  

Phillips went on to explain that although The Club has secured seventy deposits for housing units, an additional thirty-five are required prior to the onset of actual construction.

He said so far, most of those who have submitted deposits are local to the area, while about 10 percent are from Manhattan and 20 percent are out of state.

Phillips also pointed out area residents will be welcome to walk the trails and grounds on the property without restrictions.

The field has been newly-seeded, has a new irrigation system, and games will start in the fall.