High School Sports

FITCHBURG — Thirty-five interested community members, including local business and city and school leaders, recently attended an informational breakfast held at the Fitchburg City Hall Legislative Building to hear about the capital campaign now underway to renovate 105-year-old Crocker Field.

“We held a very productive meeting of community partners and it was clear that the critical nature of bringing the Crocker Field restoration project to completion is very important and those in attendance agreed,” said Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale. “The expanded use of our beloved facility will benefit our schools, as well as our community in total.”

The project funding is over 90% funded.

“As Alvah Crocker said over 100 years ago, the children of Fitchburg deserve a top-notch recreational space,” said Alan Crocker. “I trust through our efforts we will be able to provide one of the finest facilities in the commonwealth. The Crocker’s are proud to continue to support the revitalization of Crocker Field.”

Josh Kraft, the President of the Kraft Foundation for Charitable Giving, was the guest speaker.

“We believe that sports unites communities,” said Kraft. “Our family has been involved in Central Massachusetts for a long time. We understand the passion that has existed for sports in Fitchburg and the importance of the Fitchburg-Leominster rivalry. We are pleased to play a part in perpetuating this for the next generation by supporting the restoration of Crocker Field.”

Fitchburg High alumnus Jeff Bennett, who was a key benefactor of the capital campaign and was instrumental in securing Fitchburg’s NFL Grassroots grant, introduced Mr. Kraft.

“We pursued the NFL Foundation Grassroots Grant for Crocker Field because we felt that Fitchburg was perhaps the most perfect fit for this grant across the entire country — football tradition, financial need and pursuing equity and access for all students for all sports,” Bennett said. “We are thankful that the Kraft family was so supportive.”

The major construction project, which is expected to begin in the spring of 2024, will provide a new synthetic turf field that can dramatically improve the access to the field by both girls’ and boys’ athletic teams and make the field available during the summer months when it is now closed.

The project will include new field lighting, replacing the old wooden poles with aluminum poles and the bulbs will be updated to current high-efficiency standards. The track will be completely removed and resurfaced.

“My family founded Aubuchon Hardware in Fitchburg in 1908,” said William Aubuchon. “The Fitchburg community has always been an important community for our family and company.   We understand the importance of Crocker Field to this community and are delighted to help fund its restoration.”

Added Jeff Crowley of Polar Beverages: “Crocker Field is a beautiful place. Polar Beverage is proud to be part of the renovation of this historic and iconic facility.”

Tom Lamey, treasurer for the Crocker Field Restoration Committee, made it clear that, “the field is the heart of Crocker Field – nothing else matters if the field is not more useable. Our plan is to increase its use, but sports in addition to football raise the number of spectators visiting the downtown area and make Crocker Field come alive.”

Lamey said the four key events that have made the project viable were the receipt of a state budget earmark of $50,000 from Representative Michael Kushmerek and Senator John Cronin,  the awarding of the NFL’s Grassroots grant of $250,000, the school department funding the design and engineering plans, and Mayor DiNatale’s recommendation and City Council unanimous approval of $2,000,000 in ARPA funding.  It is the convergence of these collaborators that has made this dream a reality.

Each attendee listened to a presentation, which included a video of former student-athletes and adults who lobbied for the NFL grant. The $3.1 million necessary to begin the work is expected to be reached by July.

The achievement of this goal has been a pursuit for 18 years by the Crocker Field Restoration Committee that was incorporated in 2005 by Lenny Laakso and Ray Cosenza, who recognized the need for a dedicated group focused solely on preserving this historic field and its facilities.  Over those years, gifts from individuals and foundations, grants, and corporations have funded over $2 million in renovations and repairs.

While there is still work to be done on the perimeter fencing, fieldhouse and other components, this project will be the leverage needed to continue the restoration.

“The renovations to historic Crocker Field will restore the shine to this gem in the heart of the City of Fitchburg,” FPS Superintendent Robert Jokela said. “The new Crocker Field will allow our students to exhibit their athletic skills at our home field. Having a home field as good, or better, than our competitors is an equity issue. We’re thankful for the community support, which is bringing the vision of a restored Crocker Field closer to reality.”

Three smaller projects are also underway:  the replacement of some of the grandstand seating where the 105-year-old cypress plank has rotted; the installation of new doors for the toilet facilities, and constructing of a ticket booth for the Water Street entrance.

Rick Kazanjian, president of the Crocker Field Restoration Committee, directed those interested in contributing to the fundraising goal to visit the website www.crockerfield.org or make contributions by mail to Crocker Field Restoration Committee, 140 Arn-How Farm Rd, Fitchburg, MA  01420.