According to the St. Paul's Open Space Improvements Plan, it is recommended that the fields at St. Paul's, primarily used for lacrosse games, be closed entirely for the fall 2002 and spring 2003 seasons to effectively complete an irrigation project. The board of trustees approved a contract and allocated a certain amount of money for the field renovations, including the new irrigation system and turf work.

The rationale behind closing the fields entirely, according to Andrew deLannoy, chair of the Board of Commissioners for Cultural and Recreational Affairs, is based on past experience. "We've partially closed the fields in the past and found it just wasn't the best way to go," he said. Providing the board with several examples of why it didn't work, including complaints that fencing behind the cottages kept getting torn down and people continued using the property despite warnings not to, deLannoy said, "It's hard to keep just one section of the field closed. Closing it all at the same time will make our investment more effective, prudent."

Various village sports organizations as well as the school district and the village recreation department were notified about the possible closing a year and a half ago to solicit ideas regarding the improvement project. "We haven't gotten any adverse feedback from the various clubs," deLannoy said. "It's going to be painful, there's no question about that. But the organizations understand the need for this project. We've gotten lulled into a comfort-level of service and we're trying to improve that service with this plan. The groups have a guarded optimism."

Anthony Colantonio, president of the Garden City Athletic Club, Inc. (GCAC) said he doesn't think the fields need to be entirely closed for repairs. "I believe that if some further thought went into the plans it would be able to get accomplished with less burden placed upon the sports organizations in Garden City. I think the plans as they are set forth now could be amended so that they are made more efficient."

deLannoy as well as Ed Fronckwicz, village recreation superintendent, said organizations could use the other village fields, including Stewart School's full-sized sports field. "We can accommodate teams on alternate sites," Fronckwicz said. Further, the fall season is the lighter of the two seasons and recreation officials are currently trying to figure out how they can accommodate the larger load of spring players. "We're one of a few villages that have single-use fields," deLannoy said. They are looking into possibly using the fields for several sporting events at one time, particularly practices.

Trustee John Mauk, a long-time village soccer coach, suggested the recreation commission look into providing larger fields because people have expressed concern with the lacrosse fields and how they handle the village sports organizations and the school district.

deLannoy said he is working with the Board of Education as well as district officials. "Robert Palmer [field coordinator for the Garden City School District] is the single source for coordinating requests and this has improved communications," he said. "We're also taking advantage of smarter utilization of open space. Last year the district asked for 11 fields and it only has eight boys and girls teams."

The installation of a shallow irrigation well system is expected to begin this month and continue for the next five to six weeks. "The field system given to us in the present state lacked maintenance," deLannoy said. Officials expect the irrigation system to be fully installed by a target date of Aug. 15. Turf work is then expected to begin later in August-September. Officials however said if mother nature doesn't cooperate, the plan, particularly the turf work, could take longer. If the plan remains on schedule, the fields should be back in service by the summer of 2003.

Colantonio also believes that the half-million dollars to be spent on the renovations is a great deal of money and not enough is publicly known about it. "I believe the Commission has stalled on publication of the plans and should get further resident opinion prior to starting the plans," he said.

During a July 8 work session, deLannoy presented the board with a memo regarding the project. Trustee Gerard Lundquist suggested the cost of Phase 1 (the irrigation project) be included on the release as well as what the other phases are for those who may not be familiar with the budget process. Deputy Mayor Barbara Miller suggested the commission put more of an emphasis on the rationale behind the plan and that it is their recommendation, as well as that of their consultants, that the fields close entirely.

The board reviewed the memo and suggested deLannoy withhold it in order to make the above mentioned changes. The board is expected to vote on the possible closing and the topic has been placed on the July 18 agenda.