Officials and students gathered at Western Middle School for a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of new athletic fields after an eight-year closure.
Several classes of students went through all three middle school grades without ever stepping foot onto the fields.
Principal Suzanne Coyne thanked Athletic Director Phil Tarantino, PE teachers and coaches as well as former WMS principal Gordon Beinstein who led the school for most of the years the fields were closed.
“No one expected how long it would take to get us here today, but we are so glad we made it to this day, finally,” Coyne said. “The Western community now has the fields they truly deserve.”
“Our students will experience PE class as it was meant to be experienced. Our sports teams will be able to host home games and meets for the first time in eight years,” she said. “Our students will be able to finally have a field day and I promise you it will be the best one this district has seen for a long time.”
Greenwich Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones thanked staff, students, Mr. Tarantino and Mr. Beinstein. The gave a special thank you to GPS facilities director Dan Watson and the director of Parks & Rec Joe Siciliano
“This is by far one of the best middle school fields in the state, if not the country,” Jones said. “It is amazing.”
Sharing the scissors were Western Middle School principal Suzanne Coyne and Greenwich Schools superintendent Dr. Toni Jones, flanked by Facilities director Dan Watson, and BOE members Laura Kostin and Sophie Koven. Dec 12, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Jones thanked the elected official in attendance, BOE members Sophie Koven and Laura Kostin, as well as Selectwoman Lauren Rabin, State Rep Rachel Khanna, State Rep Hector Arzeno and State Senator Ryan Fazio.
Back in spring 2016, when the New Lebanon building committee explored the idea of housing students in modular classrooms on the field at Western two residents conducted independent soil tests of the fields at Western and found contamination.
In August of 2016 the Western fields were fenced off so official testing could be done. From there, the environmental investigation and remediation activities began under the Connecticut Voluntary Remediation Program.
Coincidentally, just a few weeks ago the Central Middle School community held a day of activities for a memorable farewell to that school’s playing fields. Soon, work on a new school will commence in the location of those fields. Later, the existing school will be demolished and in its place new fields will be created.
Member of the eighth grade student council shared the ribbon cutting honors during Thursday’s ceremony at the newly opened Western Middle School fields. Dec 12, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Aerial view of the new fields at Western Middle School. Photo: Greenwich Public Schools
Western Middle School fields were closed off for many years after contamination was discovered. August 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager
Western Middle School fields were closed off for many years after contamination was discovered. August 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager
View from the window at Western Middle School of work in progress on the athletic fields. April 12, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Newly completed turf fields at Western Middle School. Dec 12, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Remediation
Cleanup work began in November 2023 and excavation of the soil was largely completed by June 2024.
Cleanup and restoration activities have included: excavating and transporting more than 35,000 tons of contaminated soil to permitted disposal facilities; importing approximately 46,000 tons of backfill, planting soil and crushed stone material; and construction of synthetic turf athletic fields stone base and landscaped areas.
Sharing the scissors were Western Middle School principal Suzanne Coyne and Greenwich Schools superintendent Dr. Toni Jones, flanked by Greenwich Public Schools Facilities director Dan Watson, and BOE members Laura Kostin and Sophie Koven. Dec 12, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Eighth graders shared the honors during Thursday’s ribbon cutting ceremony at the newly opened Western Middle School fields. Dec 12, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Eight graders gathered at the new backstop to watch the ribbon cutting for the school’s new athletic fields. Dec 12, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
WMS principal Suzanne Coyne addressed 8th graders and elected officials. “The Western community now has the fields they truly deserve,” Coyne said. Dec 12, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Newly completed turf fields at Western Middle School. Dec 12, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
At Western Middle School’s ribbon cutting event, principal Suzanne Coyne addressed the crowd as Dr. Dones, Sophie Koven and Laura Kostin from the BOe looked on. Dec 12, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Newly completed turf fields at Western Middle School. Dec 12, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
View facing north of the new Western Middle School fields. Dec 12, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Greenwich Schools superintendent Dr. Toni Jones addressed the WMS eighth graders, BOE members, WMS principal, town officials and members of the Greenwich delegation to Hartford during a ribbon cutting ceremony. Dec 12, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Sharing the scissors were Western Middle School principal Suzanne Coyne and Greenwich Schools superintendent Dr. Toni Jones, flanked by Greenwich Public Schools Facilities director Dan Watson, and BOE members Laura Kostin and Sophie Koven. Dec 12, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Sharing the scissors were Western Middle School principal Suzanne Coyne and Greenwich Schools superintendent Dr. Toni Jones, flanked by Greenwich Public Schools Facilities director Dan Watson, and BOE members Laura Kostin and Sophie Koven. Dec 12, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager