Statesman V. 29, n. 01.pdf

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- ~~~~~~~" Tuesday, September 3, 1985
Field Renovations Moving Ilon Right
By Lisa Miceli
Returning students will again see giant mounds
of dirt while the typical freshman might be a little
puzzled when he walks by the athletic fields. No,
Stony Brook is not creating more parking space or
more academic building. The university is expand:
ing the present athletic facilities through the appropriation
of $1 Million for field renovation and
another $10 Million to build a fieldhouse.
With some of Stony Brook's varsity teams bveing
elevated in division status, the university is getting
more recognition and its Officials felt that its
athletic facilities should also be elevated.
The renovations will replace the old bumpy field
surfaces with newer, smoother ones. Toward the
end of the spring semester, fencing was put in to
enclose the entire athletic fields and bulldozers
pushed the top 12 inches of topsoil into giant
mounds of dirt. The only fields unaffected were the
football, baseball, and softball fields.
Since then an underground irrigation system has
been put in. University officials have plans to restructure
the layout of the fields. These plans have
not been finalized yet. Currently some and eventually
all of the playing fields will be enclosed by
fencing.
According to John Ramsey. chairman and direc,
tor of Physical Education and Athletics, "As soon as
the irrigation systems are covered up, then the topsoil
can be spread as uniformly as possible and then
reseeding can be done using the irrigation system."
The field renovation is currently at the end of its
second phase. There are newly proposed fields to be
constructed in phase III. Phase II includes ten
,enclosed rectangular fields and four baseball'softball
fields in the area directly behind the gym.
"These fields will remain playing fields for the foreseeable
future for Physical Educaton and Intramurals.
but not exclusively," Ramsey said.
The fields adjacent to the football field will be
used mainly for intercollegiate sports. As part of
phase II, football and soccer practice fields and a
soccer gamefield are being built. Phase III involves
the construction of a proposed stadium with
bleachers on each side of the playing field. "The long
40 ..... STATESMAN Tuesday. September 3, 1985
Field House Approximately 2-3 Years Auwy
range objective was to be for no specific activity, i.e.,
mens and women's soccer, football and lacrosse,"
-added Ramsesy.
While the renovation is clearly visible, the other
part of the expansion will take place over the next
three years. The fieldhouse is still being designed by
a state architect. The proposed site is in back of the
gym on two-thirds of th present parking lot. It will
be attached to the gym and will have a lobby built
adjacent to the attachment.
The fieldhouse will contain an all purpose arena
with seating capacity of 5,500. It will be the new
home of the basketball team and also contain six
new regulation squash courts and a new athletic
training room. In addition there will be team and
general lockers available. -
The women's softball field was "bypasse< d for
rehabilitation because it is meant to be a sta ging
area for materials for the fieldhouse," Ramsey said.
For the spring, the women's softball team wil11
use
one of the new softball fields.
Coaches, athletes and students feel that the boenef-
its far outweigh the disadvantages. "It's wort ;h the
wait," said Paul Scott, a varsity football pIlayer.
Fellow teammate Paul Ryan added "Down the^
road
it makes the school a lot better. Anything is an
improvement." "It's more of a benetit for thee
stu-
dents," said student KJ Wang. "An adequate facil
ity is needed for the athletes and students. It is ga
vast
improvement."
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