The long football tradition at Evans Field may continue.
Certain improvements at Canandaigua’s Home of the Braves can be funded by state aid, Superintendent Don Raw reported Tuesday night to the outdoor athletic fields review committee.
But the rest of the evening’s discussion proved that the announcement didn’t solidify a decision on whether to move the football program to Canandaigua Academy.
The option of a turf field at the Academy property is still being considered regardless of where the football program goes, as turf provides extended play seasons and can be used for a multitude of events.
Originally, the district was told that Evans Field didn’t meet requirements for funding because it isn’t contiguous to school property. But Raw went to Albany in August to meet with officials from the New York State Education Department and to inform them of the history of the property.
Because the field was once part of a school structure, and used as the main athletic field, the state is willing to fund improvements at Evans Field as long as the football and baseball programs remain there, Raw said.
“(Albany) finally said, ‘Given the history for what your community has had and always used that field for, I see no other choice but to provide aid for those fields,’” Raw said.
The only stipulation, Raw said, is that the district can’t “double dip” — meaning that it cannot make the necessary improvements at Evans Field while simultaneously pursuing football and baseball improvements at the Academy.
For aid purposes, the work at the high school and at Evans Field would be considered together, under whatever amount is determined to be the maximum allowed for the Academy. Improvements at the middle school, which will include the addition of five tennis courts and bleachers, will also be eligible for state aid.
The state aid component of the improvements creates hurdles for the committee in its attempts to come up with a plan. Improvements that may be eligible for funding include fields, bleachers, walkways, roads and parking areas.But properties like teamrooms, bathrooms, concession stands, press boxes and storage — all of which are being considered by the school — would need to be paid for by the district.
The bulk of Tuesday’s meeting centered around presentations given by Keith Cutri and Dan Knapton. Both were in charge of sub-committees that examined in detail how much improvements would cost.
Though the final recommendation to the Board of Education has yet to be reached, the committee is closer to figuring out what it will recommend regarding the outdoor athletic facilities. The numbers show that it may be more cost-effective for the district to keep the football program at Evans Field. But that doesn’t mean the district isn’t going to make large-scale improvements at the Academy.
“Without pricing on a specific design, these are the most accurate numbers they can have at this time,” said committee chairman Bill O’Hanlon.
It would cost an estimated $6.1 to 6.6 million to construct a new stadium with a turf field at the Academy, depending on whether it is placed over Exhibition Field or at the lower fields farther down the property. Covered by that cost are related elements including bleacher additions, access paths and roadways, parking, and the possibility of a field house structure.
But renovating Evans Field, and consequentially keeping the football program there, would cost drastically less. Renovations on a basic level would cost at least $1.06 million, according to the most recent estimates. That includes improvements to the football and baseball fields, bleachers, parking, storage and field house renovations. Bathrooms and concession stands would add an additional cost, depending on if the district wants to create new facilities or expand on what already exists.
The committee will reconvene at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 28. Before that date, the committee members will be provided with figures in order to analyze cost options.
Posted via email from Stuff important and amusing to Rob OBrien
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