Community Corner

Turf Installation Set to Begin; School Closes Fontana Field

Southington High School officially closed Fontana Field Thursday and construction is set to begin with the hope that the field will reopen in October.

Fontana Field is closed until further notice.

The signs hanging around the construction fencing make it clear that the field is not to be used for any activities as the town prepares for the installation of artifical turf and a new track, a project that is expected to begin in the very near future.

Athletic Director Eric Swallow said Thursday that there will be no use of the field during construction and games will be relocated to neutral locations.

"There is to be no use of either the field or track at all. No games, no conditioning, no classes," Swallow said in an email.

The Southington Town Council earlier this month approved a motion that will allow for the bonding of the project rather than cash. The project was awarded to Pro Grass, LLC, of Pennsylvania for $875,000. With a 5 percent contingency, costs for the project amount to $918,750.

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Officials with Pro Grass said the field installation would likely be completed by the end of October, although an exact date has not been set. Installation will depend on weather conditions while work is being completed, the company said.

By using bonding to pay for the project, that they will seek to develop a committee that would be tasked with fundraising for the field, helping to offset costs to the town. Specifics regarding the committee have not been released.

In the meantime, Southington's teams and in particular the Blue Knights football program will have to find a new home.

Swallow said the team will be looking at neutral sites, including UConn's Rentschler Field as possibilities. A new football schedule will be released next week, he said.

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