Bob Klein Softball Field Renovation (2013 LGAA)

Village of Rockville Centre (Winner)
County: Nassau Count
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
Village Hall: (516) 678-9260

The Village of Rockville Centre and Molloy College entered into a 20-year agreement to improve the athletic facilities at the Village's sports complex. This extensive renovation was accomplished through a public-private partnership between the Village of Rockville Centre and Molloy College, whereby the Village supplied the land and Molloy College, the capital to build the new complex.

The resulting Bob Klein Softball Field gives Molloy College an NCAA-regulation Softball Field and provides the Village, as well as the Rockville Centre School District, with use of this exceptional field.

Bob Klein Field now features a state-of-the-art playing surface consisting of an artificial turf outfield and DuraEdge clay infield. It also includes enclosed sixty-foot precast dugouts with storage, designated and enclosed bullpens on the first- and third-base sides, a 60 x 33 foot enclosed batting cage beyond the left-field fence, a 150-seat grandstand with an elevated press box located behind home plate, and permanent outfield fencing set for NCAA regulation depths. Existing lights have been maintained and utilized for the facility, making it the only complex with NCAA standard playing lights in the East Coast Conference.

By entering into a public-private partnership, the Village of Rockville Centre was able to provide the community with recreational facilities that would have been unaffordable using tax dollars alone. This mutually beneficial endeavor has given Molloy College the quality softball field that it needs and the community a superior facility that will likely be an attractive venue for other sporting events in the future, bringing visitors and retail activity to the Village.