Fundraising efforts for a multipurpose turf field proposed for the back area of Newtown High School are well on their way thanks to a group effort. With some more business/community support within the next three-plus weeks, the field can be a reality by September.

The Newtown High School Athletic Department, Newtown Youth Football & Cheer (NYF&C), and Newtown Youth Lacrosse are working collaboratively to install the field, which will benefit athletes in town for years to come.

Of the $300,000 that needs to be raised for the project, $100,000 has been kicked in by Newtown Parks and Recreation, and another $75,000-$100,000 in private/business donations has been committed, said Pete Stockwell, past treasurer with NYF&C, who was recently named president of NYF&C. The group needs to raise the remaining approximately $100,000 to $125,000 by the end of February in order for the project site work to commence in June and be completed in time for the upcoming fall sports campaign, Stockwell said.

NYF&C, led by the efforts of Stockwell and Danny Schenzer — described by Stockwell as a tireless volunteer for the program who also is a coach on the sixth grade team — in conjunction with Parks and Rec officials, brought this proposal to the Town of Newtown last August.

It is fully signed off on and included in the 2022 Capital Improvement Plan, subject to the $300K in funds from the group, Stockwell said.

Field Turf, which renovated Blue & Gold Stadium’s turf field this past year, would be used for this project as well, Stockwell said. Field Turf needs to be reserved for the project by the end of February in order for work to commence in time for completion at the end of this coming August, according to Newtown High School Athletic Director Matt Memoli.

“The field will benefit Newtown High School athletics and become the home for NYF&C and Newtown Youth Lacrosse,” said Stockwell, whose sons Cole, an eighth grader, and Nick, a seventh grader, both play football, lacrosse, and basketball in town.

The youth football teams and cheerleaders currently practice on grass at Hawley School, the grass back field of the high school, which this proposed turf surface would replace, and on turf at Treadwell Park, with games held at Hawley. “We will continue to utilize these fields for practice but will move our games to the turf at the high school,” Stockwell said.

“I think all the way around it’s a win-win,” Memoli said. “I just hope we can make it a reality.”

Memoli said Newtown High has fallen behind neighboring town high schools that have two, in some instances three, turf fields on campus.

“It’s always been talked about,” said Memoli, adding that the addition of a second turf surface creates more scheduling flexibility.

Turf is known to withstand more use than grass, which would create more scheduling flexibility for Memoli and the NHS athletics department.

Memoli noted that Carl Samuelson, assistant director of parks for Newtown Parks and Recreation, has been instrumental in helping this prospective project move in the right direction. The NHS athletic director added that businesses are welcomed to sponsor the field project.

Readers may donate directly to NYF&C, PO BOX 351 Newtown CT 06470 or the link https://www.blastathletics.com/teams/53308/sponsors/new.

Stockwell said direct donations are preferred and noted that NYF&C is a registered 501(C)(3).

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.