Riverdale, N.Y. (December 7, 2006)- As part of a campus-wide facility improvement initiative, the Manhattan College Department of Athletics is currently undergoing the process of replacing the natural grass at Gaelic Park with a synthetic field turf.
“This is the biggest single facility improvement at Manhattan College since the completion of Draddy Gym in 1979,” stated Director of Athletics Bob Byrnes. “This new facility will help with our recruitment efforts in men's and women's soccer, men's and women's lacrosse, and softball. We no longer will be negatively recruited by other schools citing the poor quality of our field. This facility will allow us more flexibility to practice and play games in the evening under the lights.”
The much maligned surface at Gaelic Park caused athletic events to be moved or cancelled due to unplayable field conditions, as the natural grass field suffered negligible wear-and-tear during the Fall and Spring sport seasons, which saw the men's and women's soccer teams, the men's and women's lacrosse teams, and the softball team practice and compete on the field.
In conjunction with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Manhattan College has contracted a company to lay down the synthetic grass-like surface, which will greatly improve the facilities overall functionality and allow for an increased number of athletic events to take place at Gaelic Park.
“When you have a great school in a great city with a top notch facility, you have the whole package with which to attract Division 1 student-athletes,” Byrnes continued. “It doesn't guarantee anything; it does however improve greatly our chances to be successful.”
In addition to the new, synthetic surface, plans are in place to install light stanchions. These lights will allow for night games, and will allow for increased usage of the field for practice times for varsity sports, and will offer an additional field for intramural and recreational sports.
“In short,” noted Byrnes, “it will be a great centerpiece for the college and will help unite the entire campus. Additionally, it will become a recreational facility that all students can enjoy and be proud of. Instead of recreating on the Quadrangle, students will be able to use a full field for touch football, frisbee and the like.
With this new field we will be able to bid to host postseason MAAC tournaments which we haven't been able to do in the past.”
Groundbreaking took place in mid-November, and the construction has been progressing according to the timetable, which should have the project completed by early April, 2007.
“The field renovation is a tremendous improvement that I can't thank Brother Thomas Scanlan for enough,” concluded Byrnes.
