Organizers Present Second Greeley Turf Check

Organizers hoping to bring a turf field to Horace Greeley High School presented a check to pay for a study that covers other athletic repairs that were recently added to the project.

At a signing and presentation on Friday with Chappaqua school officials, Greeley Sports Boosters President Jim Nottingham and The Chappaqua Turf Committee (TCTC) Treasurer Steve Bortniker entered into an agreement with the school district that covers an engineering study for its expanded goals. Those recently added projects include fixing the track, restrooms and tennis court lighting, and an overhaul for the entrance plaza to the competition field, which is proposed for the turf conversion. The study costs $76,500 and is for the WBA Group.

It is the second such event in less than six months. A similar presentation was held in September to pay for an engineering study, also by WBA, for the turf field itself.

In expanding its priorities, the boosters and TCTC will be able to submit a single package to the state's Department of Education, Nottingham explained.

“What we were trying to do is go down and dirty and get a turf field in," he said. "When it became apparent that by going in to the state with a full-fledged plan, it became possible to add all the missing pieces and qualify for some state aid. So that’s why we did it.”

The school board gave its support for the expanded mission with votes at its Jan. 31 meeting. The votes included expanding the initial contract with WBA that initially covered engineering for the field, and being able to accept donations from TCTC and the boosters for the new work.

The total cost is just under $3 million, Nottingham said. As of now, the total cost of donations and pledges is roughly $500,000, he explained. A series of donation initiatives are planned soon, Nottingham told local reporters after the event. They include a brick naming campaign, coffees and reaching out to folks who will donate large individual amounts, such as in the $50,000 to $100,000 range.

The next stage is to submit the turf and facilities renovation proposal for the education department for approval, which Nottingham said could be done next week. The completion goal for the turf remains set for the coming fall, while finishing the other parts is hoped to be done as soon as possible, Nottingham explained.