WEST GREENWICH — For years, the athletic field at the EWG High School campus has been a testament to community spirit and perseverance, a place where generations of students have competed and grown. Now, after more than a decade of waiting, the final piece of that vision is about to be put in place: the field lighting. Thanks to strong community support and a recent vote at the all-day referendum, work is set to begin immediately, with a goal of illuminating the field by the end of the fall football season.
The story of the Stephen J. Anderson Memorial Sports Complex is a powerful one. Rebuilt in 2008, the field was the result of a monumental effort by EWG Sports 4 Kids, a nonprofit formed by parents, alumni, and community members. Their mission was to honor Stephen J. Anderson, a beloved teacher and coach who dedicated 29 years to the EWG school system.
The group's ambitious goal was to raise $1.2 million, and through countless fundraisers—including comedy nights, golf tournaments, and their signature 5K road race—they brought in an incredible $900,000. While this allowed for the complex to be built, the planned lighting, a central part of the original design, had to be put on hold. The original builders, however, had the foresight to install the infrastructure to support the project in the future.
That future is now. The final $500,000 needed was proposed by Superintendent James Erinakes as an allocation in this year's capital budget, and the proposal was met with enthusiastic approval from the taxpayers.
The new lighting will be more than just a source of illumination for the field. It will enable our student athletes to play under the lights for the first time, creating a truly unforgettable experience for our community. The completed project will also provide a safer, more versatile space for all EWG athletic programs and physical education classes, allowing for extended practices and competitions into the evening hours.
For more details on the project, please see the original article from EWG Mercury here.