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NEW MILFORD – A major weight room upgrade, new softball fence, and new uniforms each year for select programs are on the school district’s athletic program wish list.
Keith Lapinsky, athletic director of New Milford Public Schools, suggests spending at least $117,000 on athletic upgrades. Repairs to the softball fence and a safety net are not included in this estimate as the costs are not known.
The weight room hasn’t seen significant improvements since the high school opened, Lapinsky said.
About 12 years ago the weight room got new racks, which were good for bench presses and squats, but they’re getting old, he said.
“Our free weights, our dumbbells, our plate weights, our bars — they’re all showing their age — with either the coating peeling or rust showing,” Lapinsky said during a budget workshop. of the Board of Education last week.
Also, he said, the cardio equipment is limited and aging, and the floor is starting to deteriorate. He proposed new flooring for $9,600.
He’s looking at the first year of the capital plan focusing on replacing the flooring and adding a set of kettlebell weights, which is a new part of the training program that many teams are starting to use, he said.
Kettle bell weights are a round weight with a flat bottom and a thick handle on top that is used for exercise and strength training.
It offers eight kettlebell weights ranging from 10 to 45 pounds, which is estimated at $400.
The weight room, located inside New Milford High School, is open daily and serves hundreds of children, he said.
Uniforms, softball
Lapinsky said it’s important to build on the city’s five-year uniform recycling plan for all of its sports teams, so the district no longer buys everything at once, “which is a hefty bill.” , did he declare.
“We are looking to break down the uniform cycle into five years, starting with the potential volleyball program for new boys, who would not have a uniform at the moment,” he added.
If the new volleyball program is approved, team uniforms are estimated at $2,500 for the year.
Additionally, uniforms are required each year for the dance team, which is estimated at around $2,000 per year for jazz and hip-hop outfits and costumes; and boys’ and girls’ track and field teams, valued at $3,500.
“There are so many kids involved in the track programs and we use the same uniforms for indoor and outdoor tracks,” Lapinsky said. “We want to make sure we are aware of this program and have enough for the number of children coming out.”
Lapinsky also suggested improvements to the exterior of the school – to the fences. After conducting a safety check on all of the school’s fences earlier in the fall, it was determined that the 8-foot fence that runs from the tennis courts around the softball field to the field foul line left of the college softball field “is old,” he says, adding that it’s a safety hazard.
“He’s been there since the school opened. It’s curling on the bottom. The brackets and brackets of some are missing or broken,” he said.
It seeks to stabilize the fences as a whole to prevent the public from entering prohibited areas, which can be dangerous, he said.
He gets estimates on repairs from local fencing companies.
Additionally, he proposed a backstop system from the JV softball field backstop to the first base line. This would protect teams on the north grass pitch from foul balls, which “presents a major safety risk”, he said.
Under the new system, lacrosse games could take place simultaneously with softball games and practices. Currently, Lapinsky has to reshuffle teams in different areas, which is causing scheduling and field issues, he said.
Two companies are working on quotes for the project – Beacon Athletics and Sportsfield Specialties, who have done previous work for the school.
The athletic capital elements will be discussed in more detail at the January Board of Education hearings before the full Board of Education.
[email protected] 203-948-9802
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