WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. November 25, 2005: Yesterday at the Parker Stadium Turkey Bowl game between White Plains High and Stepinac, the White Plains High School Athletic Fund displayed their model of a refurbished football-track-lacrosse-field hockey-soccer stadium they plan for the White Plains High School Loucks Field site. White Plains used to play football at Loucks, now they have been playing at Parker Stadium for at least the six years WPCNR has been covering WPHS football.

Loucks Stadium of the Future as it was displayed Thursday at Parker Stadium. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Inside the program for Turkey Day there was a one-page letter, asking for donations to help supplement other athletic needs beyond those targeted by the school architects study that among other items proposes $50 to $90 Million in projects for the school district, including Loucks Field renovation.

The Athletic Fund proposed persons send contributions to aid the Athletic Fund in securing $2 to $3 Million additional for "a wholly new field house with lockers, meeting and class rooms, and coaches' offices, a main entrance plaza, state-of-the-art press box, concession stands and sound system."  The letter notes that in five years, the WPHS Athletic Fund "has independently raised a modest amount for the Loucks Field project," with the inference being this would be dedicated to the field house if the school district was to fund the Loucks Field dream.

Originally, the rationale for the original $7 Million Loucks Field renovation in the first place was to provide a facility with seating capacity large enough for the city to host statewide, regional, and national competitions for track, soccer, and other events. White Plains High School plays four to five football home games a year.  When Loucks Field hosts the Loucks games, a track meet every spring, parking is at such a premium that all other events are cancelled on the three days it is run. Now the proposal is for the school district to build it as part of this bond issue. The recent architects' proposal for the Stadium, trims the cost of the new stadium to $5 Million.

Today's question to Mr. & Mrs. White Plains is, should Loucks Field be renovated with School District Dollars? A combination of City of White Plains /School and Private Donations? Private Donations? or should Loucks be renovated at all? Or should Parker Stadium, a grand old football "bowl" be renovated instead just for football?

What do Mr. & Mrs. & Ms. White Plains think?

You can vote in the survey at the right, or send contributions to the Stadium/Field House project may be sent to WPHSAF, Inc., White Plains High School, 550 North Street, White Plains, NY 10605