WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. August 8, 2007: Friday morning workmen began clearing a large section of forest behind the left field of the White Plains High School Varsity Softball Field, taking down over an estimated 100 mature trees on the Havilands Lane side of the high school campus. When a resident watching the tree carnage from his patio called to find out what was going on, he found that the Board of Education knew nothing of the project and that it had been decided upon just last Tuesday afternoon. Michael Crino told WPCNR today the cleared land is to be used to store fill from construction of the new football-track stadium at Loucks Field and possibly Parker Stadium.
Going, Going, Gone for Good. Scene is looking out to left field at the Varsity Softball Field into the former copse of woods that no longer exists. About 100 mature trees were felled without warning Friday by the City School District for a Mystery Project that no one knew about to reportedly store fill from the high school Loucks Field Project
A look down the new leftfield line of the new "softball field." Havilands Lane homes are slightly to the left.
Crino sent a letter to the school board describing what he and his wife, and a neighbor saw Friday morning, August 3 from their backyard. Here is the text of that letter, reprinted with permission:
At about 7:30 A.M., as we looked out over our backyards, we heard and watched trees being ripped out by heavy equipment. As some of us went over to the site, we were informed that they were clearing the wooded area and would have it all cleared by 3:30 P.M. that day. Not knowing anything about what was going on, what was being built, or what was happening in general, we frantically started calling the White Plains Building Department and Planning Board, all of whom had no knowledge or authority for that (high school) property.
Future Home Plate on new leftfield line.
Slightly to the left of the existing Left Field Foul Line. Fill from Loucks and perhaps Parker Stadium would shore up the valley creating a second softball field.
When talking to the construction crews working at the high school, they suggested contacting Mike Lynch at the Board of Ed. When I reached Mike Lynch and asked what was going on, I he said that they were clearing that area for another baseball field. I asked if he had a blueprint or site plan that I could see to determine the impact to me and my neighbors. He said that there were no plans drawn up for the field. He explained the layout of the wooded area behind my house and said they would not be clearing to the property lines and that they would stop at least 25 feet away.
My wife and I and one of my neighbors went over to the site and asked one of the workers, George, to show us what they were clearing. As we walked the property, there were only two trees marked with caution tape behind 60 Havilands Lane and that was it! We made more phone calls to Mike Lynch and to the Superintendent’s (of Schools) Office. At that time, Mike Lynch arrived at the site. Mike gave us a more detailed view of what was being done and explained that 15 foot evergreens would be planted as a screen and how much room was needed from the existing baseball (softball) diamond to the new one.
Then I talked with another neighbor at 68 Havilands Lane who informed me that NO ONE on the Board (of Education) to whom he had spoken had any knowledge of a ball field being built or of the wooded area being cleared. After numerous and more frantic calls, we reached Peter Bassano (of the Board of Education), who said he was unaware of this work being done but would make some phone calls and get back to us.
When Mr. Bassano called back, he informed us that the tree clearing would cease immediately. I went into the woods and informed George, who was in charge of the crew, about this decision and was told he couldn’t stop until someone called him. Twenty minutes later, and after another frantic call, they stopped. Unfortunately, by this time at 2:00 PM, I would say that 90% of the trees were cleared.”
Crino has learned based on a letter passed out at last evening’s Board of Education meeting that the clearing of the trees was to cost $4,700, and that landfill excavated from the Loucks Field project and the Parker Stadium project is going to be used to fill in the valley and create a field. Crino, who is in construction, believes a retaining wall would have to be constructed to contain the fill and prevent run off.
Mr. Crino complained of this to the Board of Education last night. He wonders how much the new field is costing the taxpayers; who approved it; and why were not “bordering homeowners and taxpayers informed and “given a chance to review the project and express our concerns?”
In Crino's opinion since no plans exist, he feels there is not enough clearance to put in a full softball field anyway.
Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors has a call in to him to explain the project to WPCNR. The Principal of White Plains High School was on vacation and unavailable for details.
Varsity Softball Field Out of Commission. A casualty of the tree felling was the Varsity Softball Field which appears to need extensive centerfield repair as the infield and outfield has been gouged by a perhaps unfortunate path to the woods taken by heavy equipment. Perhaps major repair is needed to have this field ready for play in the spring.
