WEEDSPORT - John Stoecker has been voicing his concerns about the Weedsport softball field since 1990.
Now after 15 years, the former softball coach may begin to see some changes as the district wraps up its capital project.
"That field up front is a disgrace,'" Stoecker said. "This district was able to pass its budget because you promised people new fields."
The field in question is located in front of the high school. In his complaint, Stoecker described the field as a "tripping hazard" and a field that was built as an "afterthought."
According to Stoecker, even the bleachers were poorly built, leaving anyone who sits on the first two steps below field level.
"That field is a joke,'" board member Ron Case said. "And we are going to fix it."
As part of their capital project, the district is building new fields in the back of the school. Among those fields will be four or five softball and baseball fields. The board is hoping some of the softball fields will also meet Little League regulations.
According to architects working on the project, even if the fields are complete in the next few weeks, they cannot be used until next spring because the grass needs time to grow. Case argued this timeline, stating there was nothing special about the grass being planted.
"So what if a couple of blades don't make it?" Case asked. "Telling the entire community they can't play on the fields because the grass has to grow for two years is bunk."
School board president Norman Chirco questioned if it would be worth it to put the money into the old field with the new fields so close to being complete. Stoecker urged that board to fix the field up anyway because there are no guarantees the new fields will be ready by next spring.
The district's sports boosters plan to help fund what they can as plans for the new fields continue to develop. The boosters plan to work with district officials to help lower the burden faced by the taxpayers and support the district's athletic programs.
"We want to get those fields in the best shape possible,'" booster president Mark Meitz said. "Things are off to an outstanding start, now we just need to fine tune them."
The board plans to discuss the fields in more depth at their June 6 meeting.
"We need to make some decisions," Chirco said. "And we will have some answers at the next meeting."
Staff writer Ashley Lipsky can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or at ashley.lipsky@lee.net
"That field up front is a disgrace,'" Stoecker said. "This district was able to pass its budget because you promised people new fields."
The field in question is located in front of the high school. In his complaint, Stoecker described the field as a "tripping hazard" and a field that was built as an "afterthought."
According to Stoecker, even the bleachers were poorly built, leaving anyone who sits on the first two steps below field level.
"That field is a joke,'" board member Ron Case said. "And we are going to fix it."
As part of their capital project, the district is building new fields in the back of the school. Among those fields will be four or five softball and baseball fields. The board is hoping some of the softball fields will also meet Little League regulations.
According to architects working on the project, even if the fields are complete in the next few weeks, they cannot be used until next spring because the grass needs time to grow. Case argued this timeline, stating there was nothing special about the grass being planted.
"So what if a couple of blades don't make it?" Case asked. "Telling the entire community they can't play on the fields because the grass has to grow for two years is bunk."
School board president Norman Chirco questioned if it would be worth it to put the money into the old field with the new fields so close to being complete. Stoecker urged that board to fix the field up anyway because there are no guarantees the new fields will be ready by next spring.
The district's sports boosters plan to help fund what they can as plans for the new fields continue to develop. The boosters plan to work with district officials to help lower the burden faced by the taxpayers and support the district's athletic programs.
"We want to get those fields in the best shape possible,'" booster president Mark Meitz said. "Things are off to an outstanding start, now we just need to fine tune them."
The board plans to discuss the fields in more depth at their June 6 meeting.
"We need to make some decisions," Chirco said. "And we will have some answers at the next meeting."
Staff writer Ashley Lipsky can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or at ashley.lipsky@lee.net
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