The Danbury City Council has voted to spend $50,000 to help offset the cost of a lighting system for the new turf field being constructed at the West Side Middle School.  At their meeting last week, the group also touted the generosity of Danbury Youth Soccer Club for donating $200,000 to the cost.  Council President Joe Cavo says the $1.3 million field is being paid for with surplus money from the school bond project that came in under budget.  The $50,000 will also come from that bond.

The field will primarily be used for soccer, but could be converted to almost any other use including field hockey, lacrosse and football.  It is wider than a standard field so that the youngest soccer players could use the short length as their field.  It should be opened by mid-August.

When the City approved selling 13 acres off Old Ridgebury Road last fall to Subway co-founder Peter Buck, Youth Soccer and others questioned where the displaced kids would be able to play in the future.  Buck has allowed children to play on the land since the sale went through.  This new field was the solution to finding a spot for youth soccer and other recreational opportunities.

Buck proposed building an 18,000 to 20,000 square foot building, not visible from the street, for warehouse storage of cars.  There will also be incidental parking.