By Angela Marshall
To many it truly is a field of dreams. Last Friday, dozens of young hopefuls dressed in their uniforms watched as South Side High School's girls' and boys' soccer teams played exhibition games to kick off their seasons. In a few years, some of those now on the sidelines will no doubt take to the field as playoff hopefuls themselves.
After the girls' team trounced the Lynbrook Owls 6-1, the village held a dedication ceremony, naming the complex after state Sen. Dean G. Skelos of Rockville Centre. Skelos said that looking around the fields where he and his siblings spent so many hours brought back wonderful, wonderful memories.
Calling Skelos a great champion of Rockville Centre, Mayor Eugene Murray said, Senator Skelos not only secured a $1 million state grant that helped build this beautiful complex, but his office was most helpful during the long years of negotiation with the state of New York that enabled us to swap park land and to acquire this magnificent property. For these reasons, the trustees and I decided to name this facility after him.
The land on which the complex was built belonged to the state until last summer, when a land swap 10 years in the making finally came through. The mayor also thanked longtime village trustee Bud Cosgrove, now retired, for his efforts to help make the complex a reality.
The field on which the 2001 and 2002 state champion Lady Cyclones had just earned a victory was named in memory of John Darcy, a 17-year-old sports enthusiast from Rockville Centre who died due to complications following neurosurgery in 1999.
Darcy's family donated an 11-foot bronze sculpture of a Native American lacrosse player, which stands just outside the field. Darcy was a member of Kellenberg Memorial High School's track, cross country, lacrosse and football teams. He was named all-league in the Catholic Schools' Lacrosse Division in the 1998-99 school year.
A quote from Darcy is inscribed on a stone next to the statue: My goal in life is to be loyal and honest with everyone and try to be the best person that I can be a well rounded and active person in friendships, community life, family life and my faith.
Anne Darcy, John's mother, thanked the village board and other politicians for the dedication of the field and their continued support. And mostly, thank you Rockville Centre home of wonderful families and great people, she said.
Many of Darcy's friends attended the ceremony. Sean Reagan was touched by the tribute, and said, I can't see a bigger honor in John's name.
Reagan recalled the many teams Darcy organized over the years and the enthusiasm he brought to every practice and game. This is great, he said. I can't believe it.
Representatives of the Rockville Centre Lacrosse Club, the RVC Little League and the RVC Soccer Club turned out to celebrate the opening of the new fields. The complex has soccer, lacrosse and baseball/softball fields, complete with bleachers, a press box, a scoreboard and lights. There are 250 parking spaces.
Concluding his remarks, the mayor said, Come back often, play hard and have fun.
