A Ground-Breaking Moment at East Lyme High School

With a great deal of excitement and not a little nostalgia, East Lyme school and elected officials put their feet on the shovels to break ground for the new East Lyme Athletic Complex today. 

"This is truly a day to celebrate," said East Lyme Superintendent of Schools James D. Lombardo. "This project marks the end of many years of planning ... and will provide a top-notch athletic facility for East Lyme." 

East Lyme Selectman Kevin Seery, who is also the East Lyme Athletic Complex Planning Committee representative, noted that it had, in fact, been about seven years since the idea for a new athletic facility was first proposed.  

After at least 17 public hearings and one referendum, "Today, we can see the idea's coming to fruition," Seery said. 

The new athletic complex will serve both the school and the town's needs for practice and games, with new lights and an all-season playing field to accommodate school and league football, soccer, hockey and lacrosse teams. A 1,200-1,500-seat handicapped-accessible grandstand will replace the old bleachers. And, Seery added, "most importantly, it's going to have bathrooms!"

Speakers at the ground-breaking ceremony emphasized that the new Athletic Complex will serve not only the school but all the residents of East Lyme, who voted to approve the $3.45 million project in February.

"This is going to be the East Lyme Athletics Complex," said Lombardo. "It is truly a collaborative effort between town and school officials." 

"This is as close to a town center as Flanders will ever have," added East Lyme First Selectman Paul Formica. 

Still, a number of people couldn't help but remark that they were a little sad to see the 22-year-old track and 32-year-old bleachers go. "Over 10,000 children have walked down to the field to receive their diplomas from East Lyme High School," said Lombardo. 

"The field on which I watched my sons play is gone," said Seery. "The soil here contains the blood, sweat, and tears of everyone who ever competed on it."

That, however, makes it a pretty good foundation to build on.