Dunning Stadium to get new turf

11 February 2016

With an eye to overhauling New Canaan High School’s fields, the school’s athletic director said the fraying synthetic turf at Dunning Stadium will be replaced this summer.

The turf installed in 2005 is past its 10-year life expectancy and the project is needed to ensure the safety of athletes at the 19-year-old stadium, Athletic Director Jay Egan told the Board of Selectmen at the body’s regular meeting Tuesday morning.

“We’re into our 11th year,” Egan said. “… We don’t want to be in a situation — we’re not there now — but we don’t want to find ourselves in the next year, or in a year and a half find ourselves in a situation where the field can’t be used.”

The plan is part of a blueprint of projects that could be funded through the “Ram Spirit Fund,” a group started last year that is looking to commence fundraising efforts next month to maintain and improve the high school’s athletic facilities. Other projects being considered by the group are turfing open grass fields near water towers adjacent to campus, an artificial turf baseball diamond, and more storage space for programs.

The board approved Egan’s request to approve a privately funded project to resurface the field using Georgia-based Shaw Sports Turf at an estimated cost between $381,446 and $513,413 depending on the turf chosen.

Egan said the the higher cost range estimate would fund an encapsulated rubber infill that would be, “the safest surface for the athletes of New Canaan.”

“We are looking at the best quality surface to put over the top, and we are confident that the field will continue to be as playable as it has been last for the last 20 years,” Egan said.

The board also voted 3-0 to approve a request from New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski to hire Matthew Blank as ann entry level officer, earning a starting salary of $52,500.

A plan to hire Blank and another as-yet-to be selected candidate to attend a police academy in April will bring the town’s police force to 47 officers, Krolikowski said.

Blank is a U.S. Army National Guard member and fitness instructor who is “excited and motivated,” Krolikowski said.

Krolikowski said the town’s next police application period will begin this weekend to help replenish a list of candidates for future hire. There are currently 85 people who have applied for the department’s upcoming hiring process to fill the slot of the second candidate for the April academy.

“We’re going to see a fair amount of attrition in the next few years . . . there are a good number of people eligible,” Krolikowski said.

 

newcanaannewsonline.com

Dunning Stadium to get New Turf

11 February 2016

With an eye to overhauling New Canaan High School’s fields, the school’s athletic director said the fraying synthetic turf at Dunning Stadium will be replaced this summer.

The turf installed in 2005 is past its 10-year life expectancy and the project is needed to ensure the safety of athletes at the 19-year-old stadium, Athletic Director Jay Egan told the Board of Selectmen at the body’s regular meeting Tuesday morning.

“We’re into our 11th year,” Egan said. “… We don’t want to be in a situation — we’re not there now — but we don’t want to find ourselves in the next year, or in a year and a half find ourselves in a situation where the field can’t be used.”

The plan is part of a blueprint of projects that could be funded through the “Ram Spirit Fund,” a group started last year that is looking to commence fundraising efforts next month to maintain and improve the high school’s athletic facilities. Other projects being considered by the group are turfing open grass fields near water towers adjacent to campus, an artificial turf baseball diamond, and more storage space for programs.

The board approved Egan’s request to approve a privately funded project to resurface the field using Georgia-based Shaw Sports Turf at an estimated cost between $381,446 and $513,413 depending on the turf chosen.

Egan said the the higher cost range estimate would fund an encapsulated rubber infill that would be, “the safest surface for the athletes of New Canaan.”

“We are looking at the best quality surface to put over the top, and we are confident that the field will continue to be as playable as it has been last for the last 20 years,” Egan said.

The board also voted 3-0 to approve a request from New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski to hire Matthew Blank as ann entry level officer, earning a starting salary of $52,500.

A plan to hire Blank and another as-yet-to be selected candidate to attend a police academy in April will bring the town’s police force to 47 officers, Krolikowski said.

Blank is a U.S. Army National Guard member and fitness instructor who is “excited and motivated,” Krolikowski said.

Krolikowski said the town’s next police application period will begin this weekend to help replenish a list of candidates for future hire. There are currently 85 people who have applied for the department’s upcoming hiring process to fill the slot of the second candidate for the April academy.

“We’re going to see a fair amount of attrition in the next few years . . . there are a good number of people eligible,” Krolikowski said.

 

Source : newcanaannewsonline.com