WHEATFIELD: Extending the playing field in the town

By Rick Forgione/forgioner@gnnewspaper.com
Niagara Gazette

April 26, 2007 06:47 pm

— Shortly after Edward Sturgeon was named Wheatfield recreation director, he approached town lawmakers and asked for more space dedicated to parks and sports fields.
“They probably thought I was a little nuts at the time,” Sturgeon laughs.
Times have changed.
In the past five years, the town has not only filled Sturgeon’s request to expand programs, but has worked to secure unused property to transform into more areas for residents to use.
The latest initiative is the purchase of 35 acres of land near Town Hall for $675,000. Officials are envisioning the site to be a large park and campus setting for sports, offering things like softball, baseball, soccer and possibly youth football. There also will be plenty of greenspace and pavilions available to residents.
“There’s always a need for a park and recreational activities for the town and there’s always a need for greenspace,” Supervisor Tim Demler said. “This was an opportunity to offer both, and that doesn’t come along very often.”
Demler added that by purchasing the land, which is also next to the town community center and the future youth center, a true “town center” can be established.
“It’s going to be a good opportunity for all the residents,” he said.
Town officials have eyed the farmland property for several years, but it wasn’t until a planned subdivision for the site fell through that a purchase offer was made a few months ago. Despite having a handful of other large parks to maintain, and several smaller ones, Sturgeon feels it was a necessary purchase.
When he was hired four years ago, the town had two T-ball teams; now there’s nine. The amount of participants signing up for other sports such as softball and soccer is also on the rise.
“The town is really growing,” Sturgeon said. “Our programs are going to start to mushroom and we need to be prepared for that.”
Space for recreational programs at Fairmount Park at Nash and Stieg roads and Mario Park behind the Summit Mall are already at a premium, and there’s a waiting list for pavilion use lasting past the summer. The county-owned Oppenheim Park is also located in Wheatfield, but is not used much for town programs.
The purchase of the property is good news for Michele Lowry and her two sons. The family recently moved in with Lowry’s mother near Shawnee Road and is looking for a nearby park to visit.
“I love going for long walks with them and playing on the fields,” said Lowry, who has a 4-year old and an 11-year old. “That’s one of the reasons we moved to Wheatfield, for the open space and parks.”
Sturgeon said the purchase of the new land should be completed by September. In the meantime, the town will be soliciting feedback from residents on what type of fields and services they would like included as part of the park.
“There’s no sense putting things in that the community doesn’t want,” Sturgeon said, adding early plans call for an adult baseball diamond, two softball diamonds and two mid-sized diamonds for youths.
One concern that has been raised is the cost to maintain the new park. Recreation staff already handle Fairmount and Mario parks, along with other sites scattered throughout the town including Baisch park near the town line entering Erie County and mini-parks at volunteer fire companies and the American Legion.
“We’re busy all the time trying to keep them open,” Sturgeon admitted.
The department has four full-time employees and hires seasonal help as needed, Demler said. The recreation budget is about $500,000 a year, but that also goes to fund all of the programs and events, such as the town’s annual picnic and holiday parties.
“I don’t see any long-term impact on the budget as a result of us buying this property,” Demler said. “We should be able to incorporate those costs with our existing staff.”
However, the town is looking to increase the budget by about $150,000 in the upcoming year through expanded programs, such as ballroom dancing and line dancing.
Work also is expected to begin next week to improve Mario Park, which is constantly plagued by drainage problems. Sturgeon said the town is expanding the north end of the park off of Jagow Road by adding fill and raising the field by about a foot. The site will then likely house soccer or the T-ball program, but the addition won’t be ready until next spring.


Room for one more?
The town of Wheatfield is in the process of purchasing 35 acres of land to be turned into a park and sports campus next to Town Hall. The following is a list of the parks already located within the town:
• Fairmount Park at Nash and Stieg roads.
• Mario Park, located behind the Summit Mall near Deborah Lane and Jagow Road.
• Oppenheim Park on Niagara Falls Boulevard*
• Baisch Park, located along Niagara Falls Boulevard near the Erie County line.
• The town also utilizes and maintains several smaller parks and greenspace areas owned by volunteer fire companies and the American Legion.
* Oppenheim is owned and maintained by Niagara County.

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