Students and leaders in the Lackawanna City School District celebrated the community’s work to create positive experiences for young people as the district unveiled its new athletic fields.
“This is an opportunity to show everyone what it means to be when a community invests and loves their children. Look at where we are now,” said Superintendent Nadia A. Nashir. She described the opening as a “dream come true.”
“A few months ago we had construction equipment, dirt and a vision of what could be and now we’re standing in an amazing complex,” she said.
A ribbon cutting for the new complex held during the varsity football team’s homecoming game against Cheektowaga on October 9. The fields, created as part of the district’s capital improvement plan, include 210,000 square feet of synthetic turf, with areas and markings for football, soccer, baseball, softball, and flag football games and practices. The complex also includes three scoreboards, a video board, grandstand bleachers, field lighting, and a speaker system to support games and other school events.
“It’s amazing because it's bringing us up to everyone else in Section VI,” said Kristin Tonge, Director of Physical Education, Health & Athletics. “Not only is it beautiful for our spectators, not only is it great for our community, it’s a wonderful place for our athletes to compete.”
As he thanked members of the community who made the project possible, Board of Education President Azaldeen Mohamed shared his excitement for opportunities resulting from the new fields.
“It’s a place where our students will build confidence, create lifelong memories and learn lessons that extend far beyond playing on the field,” he said.
The opening night brought the community out in full force, with the school hosting food trucks as well as a celebration of the newest inductees into the school’s Athletic Wall of Fame. Lackawanna defeated Cheektowaga 20-16 under the newly installed lights, allowing for the scheduling of Friday night football games.
“To finally see a full house and being at the new stadium, it’s amazing,” said April Bonadon, a captain of the school’s cheerleading team. “I just want to thank everyone for the new field for my senior year, it’s amazing to be a part of this experience.”
District alumni who competed at the school’s previous facilities noted the space was a marked improvement across sports.
“It changes a lot,” said Waheb Noman, varsity soccer co-coach and Class of 2012 alumni. “For them to invest money, resources into a field like this for us to play on, it’s really amazing and I think our program will prosper from it.”
