Stony Brook unveils $3M track and field facility plan

Stony Brook University officials this week publicly announced the construction of a multimillion-dollar outdoor track and field facility.

Situated on the west side of the Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium, the track and grass field last underwent renovation in 1966.

Lauren Sheprow, Stony Brook's interim media relations officer, said water damage, fence damage and tripping hazards had made it "not just unsightly, but unusable."

The actual groundbreaking for the $3-million project was in August, with completion of the artificial turf surface inside the track expected in December. The school issued a news release about the project Wednesday.

In addition to track and field use, it will serve as a new practice area for the school's men's and women's lacrosse and soccer teams, as well as football. The track itself will be ready for the spring 2011 season.

"There's no question it will be beneficial to us athletically," said Donna Woodruff, executive associate director of athletics at Stony Brook.

Stony Brook and other state universities have faced budget cuts during the recession and in April officials announced closure of the Southampton campus, expected to save $6.7 million annually. Then, the school cited the loss of nearly $55 million in state funds over the past two years.

On Wednesday, scores of Stony Brook students who had attended the Southampton campus rallied to try to build support for reversing the decision.

Thursday, some students spoke out against the decision to fund the sports facility. "The fact that you would put sports over a school is shocking - disturbing, really," said Katie Osiecki, a sophomore studying environmental design, policy and planning at Southampton until classes moved recently to the main campus. She is one of six students suing Stony Brook in State Supreme Court over the closure.

Matt Brevi, a football player and junior studying sociology, however, said the upgrade was good for the university. "It's great for the school - not only for athletics, but for everybody."

Officials say the money comes from different budget streams. "These things are not funded through the same pool of money," Woodruff said.

The maintenance fund differs from the school's operating budget, which covers salaries, supplies, utilities and other expenses associated with running a campus, Sheprow explained.

Financing for the track project was approved by the state and came from a critical maintenance capital money fund used for renovating existing facilities under the university's five-year capital budget.