FARMINGTON – Businesses have launched a campaign to raise money for new athletic fields at Mount Blue Middle School.

The intent is to build soccer, baseball, softball, field hockey and eventually lacrosse fields, said Tim Thompson of Franklin Savings Bank.

The school has a soccer field and field hockey field, which are not regulation size and are in poor condition, he said.

Organizers hope to get enough money this summer to level, loam, fill and possibly equip the upper and lower fields at the school.

Franklin Savings Bank pledged to match the first $5,000 donated. Kyes Insurance matched the donation with $5,000.

The cost to build the fields is unknown, Thompson said, but it is estimated to be at least $20,000 to start.

Kevin Vining, owner of E.L. Vining & Son, Inc., who has also pledged his support for the project, was at the school to plot out the fields.

Thompson, vice president and director of operations at Franklin Savings, said he and other parents with children attending the middle school now or in the near future would like to see the fields improved.

Thompson and Shelley Deane, administrative vice president for human resources at Franklin Savings Bank, are spearheading the fund-raising campaign as parents, and hope to encourage other parents and businesses to join them in the project.

Students at the middle school have had to be bused to Wilton to play baseball and softball.

“We really believe it is best for all concerned if the middle school students do not have to be bused to home games elsewhere in Franklin County,” Deane stated in a press release.

Some of the fields cannot be used for competitive sports and, in light of current budget cuts, the outlook for improvements isn’t good, she stated.

Busing the students to Wilton requires more time for transportation and presents unexpected delays when opposing teams inadvertently show up at the middle school, expecting to play at the school, Deane stated.

The arrangement also requires schedule juggling since the Mount Blue students are guests to the fields, she stated.

“Everyone appreciates the generosity of Wilton in sharing its fields,” Deane stated, “but we think it would be better for team morale if our students had their own fields.”

The fields would also be available for local recreation leagues.

Currently, there is a shortage of these kinds of fields, she stated.

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