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Feature
Artificial Turf Field Installed As New Glazer Family Field Dedicated At YET Center
Those who participated in the ribbon cutting were: from left, Mark Downing, Friends of Tampa Recreation Board Chairman; Chuck Brady, Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Vice President; Jack Berlin, Pres- ident/CEO of Accusoft and former Chairman NFL YET Center Board; Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Co-Chair- person Glazer Family Foundation (Buccaneers); Eric Ward, Police Chief City of Tampa; Kwame Flaherty, NFL Grassroots/LISC Senior Program Officer; Dianne Hart, President East Tampa Business & Civic As- sociation and former member of the NFL YET Center Board; and Raisa Barnes, Director. (Photos by BRUNSON)
Buccaneers on hand to join in the celebration were: from left, Cameron Brate, TE, Adam Humphries, WR, Noah Spence, DE, and Clinton McDonald, DT.
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Staff Writer
Community leaders and members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise joined together Tuesday to cele- brate the dedication of the Glazer Family Field at the Jackson Heights Y.E.T. Cen- ter.
The $1 million renova- tion of the field was a pub- lic/private partnership between the city and the Friends of Tampa Recre- ation, the Buccaneers, the NFL/LISC Grassroots Pro- gram, and the Cal Ripkin, Sr. Foundation.
Upgrades include the ad- dition of artificial turf and paved areas for fan seating. The colorful field is now marked for several sports, including football, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and soc- cer.
With the improvements, the field now rivals the Buc- caneers’ stadium, said Mark Downing, chairman of the Friends of Tampa Recre- ation.
“It’s incredible,” he said. “How cool is it to drive into a neighborhood and see this?”
Chuck Brady, vice president of the Cal Ripkin, Sr. Foundation, said his or-
ganization’s mission is to help create play spaces that are “bright oasis” in commu- nities that don’t always have top recreation areas.
“Our goal is to give these kids the best,” he said. “We try to blow away everyone’s expectations.”
The state-of-the art field is just one of the outstanding features at the center, which was established in 2001 from an NFL Super Bowl Legacy Grant. The center also has classrooms, a physical fit- ness zone, and a technology lab.
Tony Hart, 9, a quarter- back with the Jackson
Heights Vikings said he was impressed with the new field.
“I like the field goals,” he said. “I like all of this stuff.”
Tony’s coach, Brian Boucher Carroll, said a previous renovation wasn’t successful. The new makeover, however, is ex- actly what the players need to perform well in their sports, he said.
It also will help with re- cruiting new players, he said. “I’m excited,” said Boucher Carroll, whose team plays the first game on the new field Sept. 24. “It shows (players) this area is
coming up.”
Dianne Hart, president of the advisory board for the center, said the field renova- tions were years in the mak- ing.
“You work and work and you hope that something you work for comes to fruition,” she said.
“Anytime there’s money spent in the community, it’s money well spent.”
Greg Bayor, the city’s director of Parks and Recre- ation, said the field repre- sents more than just sports.
Children who use the field also will receive infor- mation and resources about making healthy choices, he said.
FYI
Nominations Being Accepted For Hillsborough County Women’s Hall Of Fame
The Hillsborough County Commission on the Status of Women is now accepting nominations for the 2017 Hillsborough County Women’s Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was created in 2011 to honor and celebrate the achievements of Hillsborough County women who have made significant contributions in areas such as business, education, philanthropy, the military, and public service to improve the lives of residents of Hillsborough County.
Since its inception, the Commission on the Status of Women has recognized and honored 24 notable women through induction into the Women’s Hall of Fame. All Women’s Hall of Fame in- ductees are permanently recognized with a plaque displayed at the Tampa Convention Center.
The Hillsborough County Women’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon is scheduled for March 24, 2017, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tampa Convention Center.
For more information contact Renee Warmack at (813) 276- 2640; or warmackr@hillsboroughcounty.org; or visit www.HCFLGov.net/COSW.
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2016