By Carol P. Bartold, Senior Reporter

Sep. 27, 2017: Although Hayes Field at The Bronxville School was not completed in time for the opening of school earlier this month, the field was available for middle school and high school athletics by Friday, September 22, and for elementary school recess by Monday, September 25.

Dan Carlin, assistant superintendent for business, confirmed these dates yesterday, having announced them in the September 19 Bronxville Board of Education meeting, in which he gave an update on the field's construction. 

"The contractor did a slower job than we would have liked," he said, "but I think they did a great job."

Carlin reported that the new Hayes Field will be suitable for all sports except for sectional soccer games and varsity and junior varsity football. Regular season soccer games and modified football, which does not have kicking and does not require goal posts, can be played on the field. Varsity and junior varsity football teams can, however, use Hayes Field for practice.

The large fence separating the parking lot from the play area will be taken down, Carlin said. With a north-south orientation for Hayes Field, he explained, lacrosse balls and soccer balls will be traveling in a direction away from the parking area, eliminating the need for the fence. "I think it will really open up the area, especially for elementary school play," he said.

In another two weeks, Carlin noted, the soil pile on the side of Hayes Field should be removed. That area will receive natural grass, along with some trees.

Pumps for the nearly completed Federal Emergency Management Agency Midland Valley Drainage (flood mitigation) project underwent successful testing during the week of September 11. Carlin reported that they are "good and ready to go." The only work needed for full completion is permanent electrical hook-ups to be installed by Consolidated Edison. He anticipates a delay in that work, as substantial numbers of crews have been deployed to Florida to help in Hurricane Irma recovery.

Should the need arise, Carlin said, the pumps can be started manually. The vendor who installed them, as well as the village engineer, would be available to operate the pumps.

As the flood mitigation project construction draws to a close, Carlin stated, he has heard concerns about the status of parking and the kickball area. The kickball area has been used as a temporary parking area for the duration of project construction. Parking issues on campus arose because the flood mitigation project removed more spaces than the temporary parking area provided.

"We have received a lot of support for keeping that area as parking, as well as concern that it go back to being a play area as was originally planned," Carlin said.

Carlin emphasized that no final decisions have been made regarding the kickball area. He added that the board and administration are awaiting completion of the Hayes Field project and will work with the elementary school to determine the best use of the space. "We're aware that the area was planned to remain as a kickball area," he said, "but we also feel there is an abundance of available play space." The Hayes Field turf, he noted, can be used in the rain and would provide an upgraded space for kickball.

Speaking on behalf of the teachers and staff, Dr. David Katz, president of the Bronxville Teachers' Association, stated that available parking for teachers has a positive impact in the classroom in that teachers do not need to either feed parking meters or move their cars during the day.

Pictured here:  Pumps for the FEMA flood control project at The Bronxville School.

Photo by N. Bower