BETHEL — Bethel selectmen will hear about possible athletic fields being constructed in the fields across from the American Legion Hall on Vernon Street at their March 4 meeting.
Discussion of building fields in Bethel have been ongoing for years, with finding a location being one of the bigger obstacles.
Jarrod Crockett, one of the people heading the project, said that his son’s home soccer field is currently in Waterford. The local little league team also has only one field to play on, which is the top field behind Crescent Park School.
Bethel has had issues scheduling playing and practice time for sports teams in the area due to the lack of athletic fields.
“The issue with that is that you have four little league teams vying for time on that field,” Crockett said.
He said the teams tried playing on Woodstock’s fields and that Bethel resident Donnie Walker even built a field in his own backyard for kids to practice on.
Crockett said designing the new fields would come with some challenges.
“Because the field is wet, we’d have to raise the level nine inches,” he said. “You’d have to crown it in certain areas and cause drainage in others.”
Two decent sized soccer fields would be created, along with a softball, baseball and little league field.
The official designation would be a multi-use athletic field complex.
The project would be privately funded. Crockett estimated it would cost a little under $500,000.
“This piece of land makes this so valuable because it is in walking distance of the village,” Crockett said.
He said CPS could also end up using the complex because of the short distance between the school and the fields.
People interested in learning more are encouraged to attend the meeting on Monday, March 4 at 6 p.m. at the Bethel Town Office.
swheeler@bethelcitizen.com
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