By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The excitement is building with each passing week.
School officials have unveiled plans for the grand opening ceremony for the $6.5 million Lynnfield High School fields complex. The grand opening ceremony will take place on Friday, Oct. 10 during the football team’s home opener against Georgetown, beginning at 7 p.m.
Superintendent of Schools Jane Tremblay said the ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place during half-time of the football game. She said student-athletes are going to play a key role in the ceremony and local officials are also going to be recognized for helping the fields project become a reality. School officials are in the process of finalizing the plans.
“This is going to be a pretty big event for Lynnfield,” said Tremblay. “We have waited a long time for this.”
Tremblay said she has met with Police Chief David Breen to discus logistics for opening night, which will include a police presence.
A second meeting between Tremblay and Breen was scheduled to take place sometime this week.
The superintendent is anticipating a parking crunch at the high school for opening night and school officials have decided to offer a shuttle service for townspeople to use. Local residents will be able to park at Lynnfield Middle School or Town Hall and the shuttle will transport people to and from the game.
The shuttle will begin transporting townspeople to LHS at 6 p.m. and the shuttle will be running over the course of the evening. Tremblay said the shuttle will be available for residents to use up until 45 minutes after the football game concludes.
“We realize some people may not want to stay for the entire football game and may just want to come for the ceremony,” said Tremblay. “We are going to have a continuous shuttle so we can make sure everyone has a ride back to their cars.”
The football, field hockey, cross country and both soccer teams have been using the stadium field for practice the past few weeks. Local athletes have also used the stadium field to play pick-up games.
“There have been kids playing pick-up soccer games and there have been kids trying to kick a field goal,” said High School Principal Bob Cleary. “It’s been great to see.”
Girls’ soccer head coach Mark Vermont said his squad has really enjoyed practicing on the stadium field.
“It’s wonderful,” said Vermont. “It’s a great surface that is easier on the joints compared to the old grass fields. The kids love hopping out there and playing on it.”
Before the football team takes the field on Oct. 10, the boys’ soccer team will play at LHS for the first time this season against Manchester-Essex, beginning at 3:45 p.m. Additionally, the girls’ soccer team will be holding an alumnae game on Saturday, Oct. 11, beginning at 3 p.m. The Lady Pioneers will play under the lights for the first time against Natick on Oct. 11, beginning at 6 p.m.
Tremblay said she can’t wait for opening night.
“We are very, very excited,” said Tremblay. “This is going to be a great evening not only for the athletes of Lynnfield but also the families and members of the community who have worked so hard to make this night possible.”
Principal Cleary concurred with Tremblay’s sentiment.
“You can really see what an impressive complex its going to be,” said Principal Cleary. “The three fields that have been laid down look tremendous.”
School Committee Vice Chairwoman Susie Cleary said she is looking forward to the grand opening ceremony. She said she has driven by the fields with her kids and said they are looking forward to using the new fields.
“It’s very exciting,” said Cleary. “(The fields) are absolutely beautiful.”
School Committee Chairman Chris Barrett agreed.
“It’s going to be a great night for Lynnfield,” said Barrett.
Principal Cleary said the fields project hasn’t caused too many disruptions at LHS other than students staring outside the window while admiring the new fields complex.
Before the fields project was discussed, student council co-presidents Emily Scollard and Grace Leman told the school board they are thrilled LHS will soon have new fields.
“We are very excited about the new fields,” said Leman. “The fields are going to be a remarkable addition to our school.”
Tremblay said when she attended freshmen orientation in late August, a number of seniors told her they were very grateful that they had the opportunity to play their last season at a beautiful new field complex.
“There is a great feeling all around town,” said Tremblay. “It’s going to be a pretty special night.”
Fields project update
Fields Committee Chairman Arthur Bourque informed the Villager fields 2 and 3 are “substantially complete.” He said the field surfaces were completed last week and local athletes have begun using them. He said there are some small items that still need to be finished such as the fence’s gates.
The boys’ soccer team practiced on field 2 on Sept. 25 and used field 3 on Sept. 26. The girls’ soccer team practiced on field 2 on Sept. 26.
Boys’ soccer head coach Brent Munroe said his squad really enjoyed practicing on the new fields last week.
“It was fantastic,” said Munroe. “All of the fields are absolutely perfect and there is so much room to play a game. The new fields are going to help us play better.”
Additionally, the cross country teams used the stadium field to conduct warm-up exercises and a run on Sept. 26. Cross country head coach Joe DiBiase said recently his teams were looking forward to using the new fields because they will help alleviate nagging shin splint injuries many of his runners have suffered from due to running on pavement.
Bourque commended the two contractors who have built the new turf fields.
“We have been very fortunate to have two great field companies to work with,” said Bourque. “The first is David White, who is building the complex, and the second is Sprinturf, who is doing the turf on the fields. They have both worked diligently to keep this project on time and within the budget.”
While the 3,800 square foot amenities building was previously behind schedule, Bourque said the contractor has “made a tremendous amount of progress over the last two weeks and the builder is insisting that he will be ready” by Oct. 9.
“I remain cautiously optimistic that (the contractor) will complete the work,” Bourque added. “If the whole building is not complete, we do expect the bathrooms to be completed. If they are not, we will open the school bathrooms in addition to the two blue door bathrooms already on the field side of the building.”
Bourque has also engaged in discussions with Building Inspector Jack Roberto, who is working with local officials to make sure the grand opening can be held as planned on Oct. 10.
The fields committee chairman said recently the baseball and softball fields are scheduled to be completed by the end of October.
Bourque said he is incredibly “thankful” that townspeople approved the fields project at Town Meeting in April.
“It was the right thing to do for the town and for the kids that will use these fields,” said Bourque. “But it was still a huge step for the town to finally deal with this issue and deal with it in a way that we can all be proud.”
Bourque said the grand opening ceremony will truly be an evening full of Pioneer pride.
“We are all looking forward to the grand opening ceremony because it marks the completion of the first phase of this project,” said Bourque. “It is a very exciting day for Lynnfield.”
