Recreation Facilities Enhancement CommitteeNote - this plan was prepared back in 2000 and has not been updated though soccer fields were built in Witek Park, a joint skateboard park was built with the City of Shelton, and the Greenway was built along the two rivers. The Recreation Facilities Enhancement Committee has completed its work on a master plan for outdoor recreation in Derby. The group had prepared an earlier plan, but when the School Building Committee revised its plans (Click here to view.) for a new high school and a renovated middle school, the committee went back to work to examine options presented by the availability of more land within the Ryan Complex. Before developing any plans for new fields, the committee had completed a major study of existing fields, programs and needs. Click here to read that study. The new plan will lead to a savings of approximately $1,000,000 through reimbursement of costs for some of the work in the Ryan Complex. The plan also addresses two of the major concerns raised during public hearings on the earlier plan. Artificial turf for DeFillipo Field is no longer part of the proposal and little league baseball rather than high school baseball and men's softball will be added at Witek Park. The Ryan (High School) Complex plan has already been adopted as part of the School Building Committee's plans. You can click on any of the images to see a larger rendering of each complex. Some of the highlights of the new plan (including links to cost estimates): 
Ryan (High School) ComplexUnder the new plan, the Ryan Complex would be part of a campus setting that would serve primarily as an athletic complex for the school system and Pop Warner football. However, when not used by the schools the setting with a linking system of walkways will provide plenty of opportunities for other city residents to enjoy its pleasures. It will also allow the high school to host track meets for the first time in more than a decade. The uppermost part of the existing Nutmeg Avenue will be incorporated into the fields on the expanded upper terrace. New all-weather track replaces obsolete cinder track around DeFillipo Field Undersized and obstructed baseball field removed from DeFillipo Field Little League Complex moved to Witek Park Full-size baseball field built on upper level Two full size multi-purpose fields added on upper level Lights added to one of the multi-purpose fields New junior varsity softball field added to upper level Paved skate park added to upper level Picnc grove expaned and renovate to accommodate a third multi-purpose field Existing basketball & tennis courts remain as is
Proposed costs for Ryan Complex
Witek ParkWitek Park will become the primary facility for soccer, Little League baseball and youth softball. The Park setting will blend into the natural contours of the land to create a beautiful park setting. The park will be a dawn-to-dusk facility with no facilities for night-time activity. In addition to the fields listed below, the complex's upper and lower lakes would be preserved as is, but cluster parking and a trail system Park will make all areas of the park more accessible. New construction would include: Three multi-purpose (soccer) fields Three Little League fields One beach volleyball court
There will be no large parking lot development. parking will be spread across the park to preserve as much of the natural setting as possible. Proposed costs for Witek Park
Bradley SchoolBradley School will be the least complex area of the new plan as there is no major construction in the plan. The existing softball field and tennis courts will remain. However, the open area that currently contains soccer and softball fields will be irrigated and two softball fields sized for youth softball will be improved. The existing playground will remain and approximately 45 new parking spaces will be added to the complex. Proposed costs for Bradley School
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