WESTMORELAND, N.Y.- On a warm October Saturday, the Westmoreland Central School District welcomed students, families, and community members to celebrate the grand opening of its newly constructed all-organic turf field, one of the first of its kind in the region.
On October 4, families filled the newly expanded bleachers while student-athletes gathered proudly on the field. Superintendent Rocco Migliori kicked off the ceremony by welcoming attendees before handing the microphone to Board of Education Student Representative Nolan Murphy, who thanked everyone for coming. “We as students are grateful for this investment in us, and we promise to make the most of it because this track isn't just ours, it belongs to the whole community.”
Mr. Migliori highlighted the regional excitement surrounding the project, noting that “schools from across the region have already reached out, asking to look at our field.” He added that several Section III schools are eager to schedule games at the new facility, joking that Athletic Director Jerry Fiorini “will be busy scheduling games for the rest of the year.”
Board of Education President John Acee followed with words of gratitude. “We certainly could not have done this without the support of the Westmoreland community,” he said, emphasizing the new opportunities the field will provide for students, athletes and the community. Fiorini then shared his enthusiasm for the busy schedule ahead, with multiple schools already expressing interest in playing on the new field.
Representatives from the girls varsity soccer team, the football team, the marching band, and other student groups joined the celebration. Following the speeches, the ribbon was officially cut, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Bulldog athletics and community events.
The festivities continued with a fun game between the boys and girls Westmoreland/Oriskany Varsity Soccer teams, followed by a performance of the National Anthem by the choir ahead of the afternoon football game against Mexico. The marching band also took to the field, performing during halftime.
This event celebrated the successful completion of a $10.5 million capital project, approved by the community in 2024. Along with the new organic all-purpose field, the project included resurfacing of tennis courts, roof repairs, new windows and doors, mitigation work behind several campus buildings, and boiler upgrades. In total, the project took about one year to complete.
The District extends a sincere thank you to the Westmoreland community, district staff and students, and its construction partners, Kestrel Construction Services, EV Roofing & Construction Supply Corp., and Murphy Excavating, for their support and outstanding work throughout the entire process.
Click here for photos from this monumental event!