By Rachel Kelly, Superintendent, Bronxville School

Feb. 9, 2026

Purpose

This document is intended to provide the Bronxville community with background information on current athletic field constraints and the range of potential options being studied. The Superintendent of The Bronxville School compiled this with input from the Board of Education and the Study Group consisting of school leadership, board of education facilities committee, and Village residents. It is not a proposal, recommendation, or decision, but rather an attempt to educate our community on this complex issue.

I. Summary

The Bronxville School is facing a shortage of outdoor athletic space and ongoing challenges which sometimes results in reduced practice and game time, increased travel time, and potential safety risks due to less warm-up/half time and referee supervision. Although it is not a new issue, the field space shortage is aggravated by busing and referee availability. In addition, New Section 1 rules proposals will likely be implemented this fall, creating deeper challenges.

In the 2024-2025 school year, 83% of 7th/ 8th graders participated in sports, while 73% of high school students played at least one HS sport. These percentages include all sports teams, not just field teams. JV and Modified field teams are most impacted by field issues. See our field team offerings here. Despite our strong programs and the infrastructure improvements of Hayes Field turfing, our current configuration continues to be a challenge in supporting the field athletic teams (Chambers Field and Track, Hayes Field, Tree Lot, and the Grass area).

Note: In 2025, as part of a broader capital planning process, the Board of Education and school leadership reviewed a range of potential facility improvements including locker rooms, replacement of turf fields, new bleachers, field house, field lighting, and other school priorities, as we worked to determine what should be included in the capital project referendum. While field lighting was not pursued for several reasons, including school budget constraints, advances in lighting technology and interest in exploring private funding led the Board and Administration to reconsider it more fulsomely.

II. The Scale of the Problem

Our sports programs face a growing mismatch between student participation and finite resources including field space, transportation, and referees.

-Participation: Multiple outdoor school teams need access to field space in the fall and spring; 15 field teams in the fall (tennis is off campus) and 13 field teams in the spring (golf, tennis, and softball are off campus and baseball games are off campus while practices could be on campus).

-Infrastructure Overload: Due to limited regulation fields, a variety of spaces are used including the Tree Lot, track infield, grass field by the playground, and segmented both turf fields. Fields are often split with multiple teams utilizing a field. 

-Program Growth: Continued additions to sports programs - since 2013 two additional field teams have been added (girls flag football and JV baseball) further increasing demand for fields. 

-Busing Issues: Challenges in transporting athletes for off campus games/practices due to limited drivers/buses. This also presents challenges for opponents getting to our campus on time for games. (Examination of using municipal employees with licenses is under review.)

-Referee Shortage: Referee sparsity is impacting game schedules and rescheduling. Referees prefer back to back games to maximize their time/earnings. They are prioritized by level (Varsity, then JV, then Modified), leaving JV/Modified games sometimes without them. In the fall of 2025 a total of 6 games were impacted by referee shortages - 1 JV game was cancelled and 5 JV or Modified games were played without a referee at all.

III. Student Athlete Impact

Fall sports are impacted by field space constraints to a greater extent than spring sports due to more fall field teams and earlier sunset times during the fall season.

Field space constraints has a "trickle-down" effect upon the student body:

A. Practice Time Deficit

Athletic preparation at many peer high schools, as well as our varsity coaches preferences, is 2.0 hour practices.  Because of space constraints, practice times are less and could be on half a field. Our JV and Modified teams on average practice less than 1.5 hours per practice as well.

Boys Varsity Soccer: 1.42 hours
Girls Varsity Soccer: 1.50 hours
Varsity Field Hockey: 1.70 hours
Varsity Football: 1.85 hours

B. Potential Safety/Game Integrity

Sharing available field areas has led to compromises for The Bronxville School:

Compressed Timelines: Junior Varsity and Modified games were shortened in the Fall 2025 season.

Warm-up Elimination: Warm-ups/halftimes were reduced or eliminated, which could increase the risk of student injury.

Rescheduling: 25% of home games were moved to away games (total 9) or rescheduled (total 19). Rescheduling burdens students/families due to scheduling conflicts and the impact on other teams and their existing schedules. Moving games away increases wasted transportation time for students and families and eliminates a community building opportunity and feeling of pride for the student athletes.

IV. Future Pressures

Beginning fall, 2026, Section 1 Proposed Changes are likely to be added that will cause further pressures on The Bronxville School.

-Later Start Times: 5:00 p.m. games because of referees/officials and transportation shortages, pushing athletic activity further into the evening. This past fall our games were able to start at 4:30 p.m. The average sunset in Bronxville in October was 6:15 p.m. and in November it was 4:50 p.m. raising doubts about our ability to finish games in those months.

-Back-to-Back Requirement: Referees demanding back-to-back games or refusing to appear.

-Implications of New Rules: The combination of required 5:00 p.m. starts and back to back games results in weekday games being scheduled at 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., which potentially impacts JV games given they typically play after Varsity games.

-Limitations on Rescheduling Games: Rescheduling at least two weeks before the scheduled date to ensure referee availability.

-Modified Start Dates: Modified sports will begin later in the fall due to referee shortages, which will free up field time for other sports but could reduce the number of game-playing opportunities for modified athletes. Our 7th/8th graders on Modified sports already get less practice time and play fewer games than our Varsity and JV athletes so this will further pressure their experience.

The rule changes will disproportionately impact schools without extended field use lighting. Approximately 70% of public schools in Section 1 have lights. Section 1 Field Light Information.

V. Logistical and Financial Burdens

The Bronxville School relies on off-site locations, creating financial and academic challenges.

A. The "Transportation Tax" on Student Time

Moving practices and games off-campus causes lost student time:

-Travel to Haindl/Underdome: 25 minutes (Haindl) and 30 minutes (Underdome) round trips.

-Seasonal Loss: Moving games/practices off campus results in lost student academic time, downtime, or time spent on other activities.

B. Escalating Operational Costs

The Bronxville School currently operates without a steady bus contract, leading to higher costs: 

-Busing Fees: Costs to Haindl Field in Eastchester can cost up to $617.

-Rental Fees: Facilities such as the Underdome in Mt. Vernon cost $295 per hour.

-Scout Field: While currently a $20,000 annual fee, new Westchester County billing structures starting in 2027 could see these costs increase to $70,000+ based on actual usage. Given the school’s budget constraints, we would likely need to dramatically cut back use of Scout, which would put greater strain on the Bronxville campus fields.

C. Schedule Uncertainty/Changes 

Schedules: Practice schedules are typically released one week in advance due to limited field availability. There is little consistency week to week in the timing of practices due to field time constraints, which unnecessarily burdens a family’s other priorities and their ability to plan ahead (e.g., doctors' appointments, tutors, mental health professionals).

VI. Off-Campus Site Challenges

Off-site fields are not a reliable long-term solution, although further research is underway to secure more time:

Shared Access: At Haindl Field (shared with Tuckahoe/ Eastchester), The Bronxville School has access to 33% of the time during peak hours (3– 6 p.m.) and access to both the full field and to half field once a week.

Site Volatility: Iona and Tibbetts were unavailable for the fall 2025 season.

Lack of Facilities: Most off-campus sites lack permanent restrooms, locker rooms, scoreboards, and spectator stands, diminishing game experience and safety during inclement weather.

VII. Conclusion

In conclusion, The Bronxville School’s limited outdoor athletic space presents an increasingly significant and complex challenge to supporting its robust athletics program. With high participation rates among both middle school and high school students, the strain on existing facilities disproportionately affects JV and Modified teams, leading to reduced practice and game opportunities, increased travel demands, and potentially heightened safety concerns. These issues, already intensified by transportation and officiating constraints, are expected to worsen with the anticipated implementation of new Section 1 scheduling rules in the 2026–2027 school year. While the field space shortage is longstanding, evolving circumstances and growing participation make the need for exploring potential solutions necessary. We also understand that our athletes, their families and many in our community enjoy home athletic games, including during our homecoming week, which offer community building and social opportunities while allowing our talented student athletes to feel the pride in their hard work and athletic accomplishments. Although field lighting was not included in the recent capital plan, recent advancements in lighting technology and increased interest by some in the community in private funding have reopened the conversation. As a result, continued research and thoughtful evaluation of potential alternatives are essential to ensuring that The Bronxville School can safely and effectively support its student-athletes now and in the future.

VIII. Alternatives Currently Being Studied and Considered

A. Off campus Resources

Scout Field, Bronxville

The outfield of the baseball field is used in the fall for girls and boys modified and JV soccer and is used by all of our baseball teams in the spring. The Bronxville School currently pays a $20,000 annual fee, but the new billing structure in 2027 could see the costs increase to $70,000 based on usage (no longer flat-fee structure), which may result in reduced reliance on that location due to budgetary constraints. The Superintendent is in conversations with the County Executive. Its close proximity to the school eliminates the need for transportation.

Limitations: 

Soccer: Daily access is unavailable because this county park is shared with other schools. No bleacher seating and the scoreboard is non-operational for soccer. Playing on grass is also not frequently done in Section 1 and changes the game.

Baseball: Daily access is unavailable because it is shared with another school and other youth/ adult organizations. Field use begins when county parks open, usually the first week of April (spring season begins mid-March). The field is susceptible to flooding due to its low-lying location adjacent to the Bronx River.

Loss of an on-campus community experience.

Haindl Field, Eastchester

The Bronxville School is entitled to 33% of one field time at no cost. One full weekday (3-6 p.m.) with entitlement to schedule games under lights. One weekday of shared field usage with Tuckahoe/Eastchester (3-6 p.m.) May allow for occasional games. Bronxville utilized its practice time this past fall with the football team.

Limitations: 

Transportation is required - up to $617 per round trip. 

No locker room facilities.

Loss of an on-campus community experience.

Tibbett’s Park, Yonkers

It has several baseball fields and grass/turf multi-sport fields. The park is a 10 to 15 minute drive from The Bronxville School.

Limitations:

Turf Fields: Access is limited because of other organizations, schools, and teams holding the right of first refusal on available time slots causing Bronxville School never to be able to get field time. Transportation is required, goals must be provided, and no locker facilities. Field cost is $125 per hour, with an additional $60 per hour for lighting.

Grass Fields: Transportation is required, and fields are a 10-minute walk from the parking area. Field availability begins when county parks open for the season, usually the first week of April (spring season begins mid-March). Field lining is required (approximately $800 per field). Fields are often wet, with goose droppings. Restrooms are in the parking lot, and no bleachers or goals. Two of the three fields are not regulation size for games. Field cost is $100 per hour. 
Loss of an on-campus community experience.

Iona University, Bronxville

Iona is in Bronxville and 5-minutes away from the School. It has a baseball field, softball field, and a full-size turf multi-sport field.

Limitations:

Turf Field: Unavailable in the fall. Unavailable in the spring, until May 1, because of Iona varsity sports (The Bronxville School regular season ends in mid-May). Parking is limited and requires coordination with Iona security. Schedules must be processed through Iona’s legal department, which typically requires approximately one week. Transportation is required and no bleachers, goals, and locker rooms. Restrooms are limited. Field cost is $400 per hour.

Softball Field: Field is often wet, not a regulation size for games, and there are no bleachers, restrooms, parking, goals, or field lining. Requires transportation. Schedule changes are difficult, as noted above. Field cost is $100 per hour.

Loss of an on-campus community experience.

St. Joseph’s Seminary and College, Yonkers

St. Joseph’s Seminary and College is a 10-15 minute drive from the school.

Grass Fields: Grass fields are potentially available for daily use during the fall/spring seasons. The fields are regulation size for practices/games. Parking and bathroom facilities are available. An indoor facility is accessible to players during inclement weather.

Limitations:

Transportation is required. 

Goals and field lining are required. 

No bleachers or scoreboard available.

Fields are unavailable in wet weather conditions.

Field Cost is $100 per hour.

Loss of an on-campus community experience.

Sarah Lawrence College

Currently investigating what opportunities may be available. It is a 5 minute drive from the School. 

Limitations:

Transportation is required.

Fees and other details regarding goals, field lining, bleachers, scoreboard, and locker rooms being explored.

Loss of an on-campus community experience. 

Repurposing County Land

Constructing a turf field stadium on undeveloped county land through private funding. Under law, the Bronxville School cannot purchase non-district land (it would require ground lease). 

Limitations: 

Lengthy permitting and financing.

Timeliness and significant cost, with unclear private donor interest.

No land ownership.

Loss of on-campus community experience.

Transportation time and expense.

B. The Bronxville School Campus

Non-Permanent Electric Lights 

This option has not been thoroughly researched. Advantages could include:

-Increased field utilization - games and practices could be completed when daylight is limited. 

-Scheduling flexibility - reduced cancellations/rescheduling caused by early sunsets, weather delays, and opponent late arrivals due to transportation issues.

-More predictable scheduling for students, families, and coaches.

-Lights are odorless and quiet with limited permanent aesthetic impact.

Limitations:

-Rental costs and electrical upgrades on Chambers and Hayes Fields (cost of rental and electrical upgrades have not yet been determined).

-Lights are approximately 23 feet high (similar to the Homecoming rentals), resulting in light spillage. 

-Lighting distribution uneven on the fields.

-Neighborhood considerations including potential noise and light spill, traffic, and police/security concerns.

-Community concerns related to potential property values and health issues.

-Community concerns related to the negative impact on the character of the Village.

Permanent Lighting

Lighting on Hayes/Chambers Fields would provide benefits for students and school programs by: 

-Extending usable field time during shorter daylight months. 

-Help balance demand across both fields.

-Reduce cancellations and rushed schedules. 

-Allow practices/ games on campus rather than being moved offsite.

-Even illumination.  

-Musco created materials for illustration purposes on the two turf fields - Musco.

Limitations:

Considerations related to permanent lighting on Hayes and Chambers Fields include:

-Upfront installation, annual maintenance and usage expense, and security costs, which have not yet been fully analyzed. (Even with private funding for the acquisition of lighting, annual funding costs may be needed from the School’s operating budget.)

-The visual presence of 70-90 foot poles on our campus.

-Neighborhood considerations including potential noise and light spill, traffic, and police/security concerns after dark.

-Community concerns related to potential property values and health issues. 

-Community concerns related to the negative impact on the character of the Village.

-Past and current considerations have been divisive within the Village community.

-Concern that future boards could change any established guidelines by extending the available hours and/or parties that may use the lighted fields.

-Potential legal implications which could result in substantial legal costs and disruption; the costs of which are not within the School’s budget.

Improvements to The Bronxville School

Re-grading the uneven grass by the playground and enhancing the space with turf would create a small, on-campus practice area. 

-This additional space was already frequently used this past fall but is not in great shape.

-Allowing more opportunities for physical education classes and active play during recess. 

-Turf an existing area making it a more reliable practice field and increasing scheduling opportunities which may ease weekday field congestion, and possibly reduce transportation constraints and pressure on referees.

Limitations:

Turfing an existing grass area.

Increased scheduling of home games and practices on Saturdays and Sundays

-Scheduling more home games and practices on Saturdays and Sundays allows teams to take advantage of daylight hours while easing weekday field congestion. 

-Weekend scheduling can also reduce transportation constraints, as buses are often more readily available.

-Referees may have greater availability than on weekday evenings. 

Limitations:

-Not all schools are willing/able to play games on weekends, which would decrease the pool of opponents. Weekend games must be mutually agreed upon, limiting flexibility and control.

-Many sports play 15 - 20 games, requiring weekday games. 

-League/cross-over games are scheduled by Section 1, our athletic governing body. 

-Increased weekend play may impact family time, religious and community commitments, and create conflicts with youth, community, and club sports. 

C. Review of current Athletic Programs

Given the constraints on our school fields, the number of field team offerings may need to be reviewed to determine if any adjustments should be made (specifically, cutting teams, especially as new ones are added) to better accommodate our field capacity and budget constraints.

Limitations:

A departure from our practice of offering a sport that has gained legitimate student interest, therefore, turning students away from participating in a sport.  
Halting the growth of a current field team, if we didn’t expand beyond the initial offering (if Varsity is currently only being offered, we’d potentially stunt its growth by not offering a JV or modified opportunity).

Upcoming Survey

With sincere appreciation for the community’s feedback as we study our field constraint challenges and potential solutions.

Please look for an informal survey in the coming week and a further update at our next Board of Education meeting on Thursday February 26, 2026.