Leo F. Ryan Sporting Complex
The Leo F. Ryan Sporting Complex is located west of the high school
and adjacent to Chatfield Street and occupies approximately 7.0 acres.
This is a multi-sport complex that includes football, baseball and softball
fields, a running track and batting cages. The complex includes an on site
multi-purpose field house with amenities and storage. This complex is Derby’s
premier stadium field and is intensively used. The following fields and
buildings are within the Ryan Sports Complex:
1. Girl’s Softball Field
The girl’s softball field currently doubles as a practice field for
the boy’s soccer team. The field is too small for men’s softball or soccer
teams to play on. The field is lit for night play and the turf is generally
in good condition. The following is a preliminary inventory of existing
conditions with regard to this field:
This field also doubles for boy's high school soccer in the
fall. (It is too small for soccer)
Field is irrigated
Fence is in poor condition
Bleachers are limited
Scoreboard is in poor condition
Field is lit for night play
Pedestrian access is difficult due to steep hill
Erosion on slope behind back stop requires attention
Water fountain exists
Lou DeFilippo Football Field
This is the only regulation sized football field in Derby. The field
is intensively used by a multitude of sporting programs. The intense use
of the field has the potential to wear significantly more than it currently
shows with the advent inclement weather. The field is shared in part with
the baseball diamond on a seasonal basis. This creates additional wear
on the playing surface. The following is a preliminary inventory of existing
conditions with regard to this field:
Bleachers require code updates
South end zone overlaps baseball diamond
Field is lit for night games
Field is used intensively for High School Football, Pop Warner Football,
Girls Soccer, High School Baseball, Babe Ruth, Senior Babe Ruth, Men’s
Softball, and Cheerleading
Field is irrigated with automatic system
The field shows signs of being worn down. intense use of the field combined
with poor weather will result in costly maintenance requirements
Baseball Field
This is Derby’s primary high school baseball field. The field is overall
in good condition but has several undesirable conditions. One such condition
is the running track that slices through left field. Other conditions are
a short left field fence and shared field use with the football field.
The following is a preliminary inventory of existing conditions with regard
to this field:
Stone dust track cuts through left field
Short left field fence
Not an ideal orientation but generally usable despite sun angles
Partially lit for night play
Partially irrigated
Conflict with football field and track use
Track
The track is oddly shaped and does not meet ideal track lengths. Derby’s
track program uses this facility for practice purposes only. Track meets
are typically held away from Derby. The following is a preliminary inventory
of existing conditions with regard to this field:
Track size is ± 440 yards
Facility is not suitable for competitive track meets
All high school track meets are held away from Derby
Track conflicts with baseball field
B. Little League / Practice Field Complex
This complex has single use and multi-use fields. The single use field
is the Uluski Little League Field. It is the primary home field for the
little league program in Derby. The ractice field is used for Minor Little
League Baseball, Pop Warner Football and High School Football activities
1. Uluski Little League Field
Uluski Field is a fenced in little league field with many desirable
features such as dugouts, bullpens, and an associated field house, but
many of the site features require code updates and general maintenance.
The field is in overall good condition with the exception of a less than
smooth outfield. The field does not meet regulation size for competitive
tournament play. The following is a preliminary inventory of existing conditions
with regard to this field:
Field dimensions: foul lines ± 175’
Desired dimension is 200’
Outfield grades are not smooth
Fence is in general disrepair
Dugouts exhibit structural problems
Bleachers require code updates
Third base bullpen close to spectators
Spectator visibility is poor due to bleacher location on first base
side of field
No lights
No irrigation
Field orientation is good
2. Little League Field / Practice Field / Third Little League
Field
This field is intensely used by the Little League Baseball, Pop Warner
Football and High School Football programs. These are demanding sports
that subject the playing surface to extensive wear. The playing surface
for this area is poor and has exposed rock ledge in many areas. This is
field is another example of multi-use spaces being overly used. The following
is a preliminary inventory of existing conditions with regard to this field:
Field usage is by the following groups:
Little League Baseball
High School Football
Pop Warner Football
Field dimension: ±220’ x 400’ (±2.0 acres)
Field surface is in poor condition
Field is subject to intense use
Thin topsoil conditions
Some exposed ledge
Third little league field is in very poor condition
Batting cage is in disrepair
No irrigation
B. Picnic Grove Area
The Picnic Grove area is south of the high school and is a multi use
area. It includes basketball and tennis courts, an open practice field
and a pavilion structure that is rented out to the general public.
1. Picnic Grove Field
The Picnic Grove Field is used as a practice field for freshmen football,
soccer and cheerleading. The following is a preliminary inventory of existing
conditions with regard to this field:
Small area: ± ¾ acre usable space
Field usage is by the following groups:
Freshman Football
Soccer
Cheerleading
Minimally lit
Poor field surface – thin topsoil
No irrigation
Field undersized for football and soccer
2. Basketball and Tennis Courts
Recently constructed courts
Good condition
Two tennis courts, one basketball court
Associated parking is newly constructed
Summary For Derby High School Fields
Many of the sporting activities such as baseball, soccer and track take
place away from Derby High School. These activities are forced to use other
fields due to lack of field accomodations on site. The existing facilities
tend to physically conflict with each other trying to occupy the same space.
This intense use of fields places extreme demands on the turf and the result
is worn playing surfaces. This is particularly notable on the practice
fields. The practice fields tend to be undersized and over used. Considerations
should be made to create single sport fields where possible. This may include
relocation, expansion or new construction. Finally, pedestrian circulation
between fields needs to be addressed if the campus setting is to be achieved.
Athletic Fields at Bradley School
Bonaventure " Buddy" Amendola Sports Complex
Baseball Field
This field serves both as a softball and 90-foot baseball
diamond/complex. The field is heavily used under tight time frames that
are scheduled back to back during the spring season. This field is used
less during the fall season, when it conflicts with the soccer program’s
usage of the full-sided soccer field. The field is lit for night play which
extends the availability of usage into evening hours. The following is
a preliminary inventory of existing conditions with regard to this field:
Foul line dimensions to fence: approx. 290’
Short for 90’ hardball diamond
Field usage is by the following groups:
Freshmen boy’s baseball
Intermediate boy’s baseball
Girl’s softball
Men’s softball
Field has poor solar orientation. Afternoon sun is in
batter’s eyes
Field is in overall good condition
Field is lit for evening use
Slope adjacent to the first base line is ideal for
spectators, but may be slippery to walk down under wet conditions
Timber steps adjacent to first base line are not completed
Infield has irrigation system
Outfield has no irrigation system and is subject to
summer burning
Foul balls may impact use of the pavilion and tennis
courts
Homerun balls land in soccer fields and create conflicting
field usage
2. Full-Sided Soccer field
This is Derby’s only full sized soccer field and is
heavily used. Soccer appears to be a sport growing in popularity throughout
Derby. The field is subject to multiple use by a variety of sporting programs
which causes scheduling conflicts limiting the availability of the field.
This intense use is physically evident by viewing the worn playing surface.
Although this field is considered "full-size" it is slightly smaller than
a regulation field. The following is a preliminary inventory of existing
conditions with regard to this field:
Overall dimensions: approx. 295’ x 180’
(ideal size: 330’ x 195’)
Field usage is by the following groups:
Youth soccer
Junior varsity girl's soccer
Sunday morning men’s soccer league
Summer soccer program
Field is heavily used and shows significant wear on
playing surface
Field does not have an installed irrigation system
Manual attempts to irrigate field are limited due to
the remote location of the soccer field to the pump station. The low water
pressure hampers the manual irrigation system
An effective irrigation system, manual or automated,
would help improve field conditions, and current aeration and seeding practices
would yield improved results when coupled with proper irrigation management.
3. Small Sided Soccer Field
This field is primary used by the Youth Soccer Program.
The field is far short of being considered a "full-sized" field. This space
also shares common ground with the softball field and is subject to potential
schedule conflicts. This area can also be used as general recreational
open space. The following is a preliminary inventory of existing conditions
with regard to this field:
Overall dimensions: approx. 80’ x 170’
Field usage is by youth soccer
(children 8-10 years)
Field is overall in good condition
The field maintenance program would be enhanced with
an automatic irrigation system
2. Softball Field
This field is in general good condition with the exception
of right field. There are worn areas due to shared use of the playing surface
with the soccer field. This shared use of space often accounts for tight
scheduling constraints between the soccer and softball programs. The following
is a preliminary inventory of existing conditions with regard to this field:
Field usage is by the following groups:
Girl’s high school softball
Intermediate girl’s softball
Girl’s recreational softball
Infield is in overall good condition
Right field conditions are worn due to the dual usage
of playing surface (softball and soccer)
Good solar orientation
Conflict of use with soccer fields
No automatic irrigation system
The water source located adjacent to the first base
line is used to manually irrigate the soccer/outfield areas via hoses and
mobile sprinklers. This water source has low pressure
2. Tennis Courts
The tennis courts have recently been renovated and
appear to be in good condition despite several cracks that have appeared
in the playing surface. These courts are used by the general population
and are the only courts on the east side of Derby. The placement of the
courts may be potentially in conflict with the baseball field with regard
to foul balls. The following is a preliminary inventory of existing conditions
with regard to the courts:
Court usage is for the community
Location of courts are in close proximity
to the baseball field and can conflict with field use
Recently renovated playing surface has begun to show
limited surface cracking
Courts are not lighted
These are the only two tennis courts on the east side
of Derby
3. Basketball Court
The basketball court is good condition and is used
by school children and the general community. The court meets high school
regulations but is not used by the basketball program. The court is lit
for evening use. The following is a preliminary inventory of existing conditions
with regard to the court:
Overall dimensions: approx. 85’ x 50’
Meets high school size requirements
Court usage is by the following groups(s):
School population
Suitable for general usage
Court is good condition
Lighted for evening use
2. Playground and Pavilion
The multi-themed playground features a variety of
playground equipment set in a gravel area. The area is lit for early evening
use and is used by school children, summer camp groups and the general
community. The pavilion could be used for recreational social gatherings,
but it offers no amenities such as restrooms. The following is a preliminary
inventory of existing conditions with regard to the playground:
Newer facility is popular with school children and
neighborhood residents
Pavilion provides shade and is available for group
activities
Summer camp program uses the pavilion, playground,
and fields
Playground is lighted
Pavilion has no lighting and no amenities
such as water, restrooms, concessions, etc.
Summary For Bradley School Fields
The Bradley Field Complex offers a wide array of sporting
venues within a limited space. Fields either overlap each other or cannot
be used simultaneously because of spatial conflicts. Current usage is intense
for the facilities that are allocated to satisfy the sporting programs.
Coupled with this aggressive use is the fact that the current grounds maintenance
program lacks an efficient irrigation system to aid in the recovery of
the playing fields. Finally, the absence of restroom accommodations poses
an inconvenience for the athletes and spectators. These fields are also
used by high school sports teams which require car transportation of students
to Bradley from the high school.
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Section 2
Derby
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