College Completes All-Weather Turf Field

New London, CT – Varsity lacrosse, field hockey, soccer, intramural and club athletes now can focus on their sport – instead of threatening weather – as the College has completed its new all-weather turf field. The synthetic turf replaced natural grass that previously covered the Lyn and David Silfen Field behind the College’s Athletic Center.The new surface ensures that scheduled games will not be postponed due to inclement weather, a common occurrence in recent years. Including CC, nine of the 11 colleges in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) have all-weather turf fields. According to Fran Shields, the Katherine Wenk Christoffers ’45 Director of Athletics, the new turf will alleviate scheduling problems, allow practices and games to be held year-round and provide a venue for regional and national championships. The field, which is made of a synthetic carpet that sits on a 500,000-pound layer of rubber and sand pellets, was used as a venue for the recent Cerebral Palsy World Championships. “This facility makes a statement that our athletic programs are on a trajectory for a new level of excellence,” Shields said. “Plus, the image of a turf field overlooking the Thames River will leave an indelible mark on the minds of campus visitors.” The field will primarily be used by the women’s field hockey team in the fall and men’s and women’s lacrosse in the spring, but it will also provide additional playing space for the college’s soccer teams, club sports, intramurals and recreational activities. It’s estimated that 600 students will use the field annually. The $1.4 million project – funded by College donors – also includes several improvements for the track and field program, most notably the creation of a throwing events field directly east of Silfen Field. The field will be dedicated this fall at a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 24.