For immediate release
SINA/Trinity Advance Plans for a New Community Sports Complex
Hartford, Conn., June 4, 2004— Encouraged by leadership support totaling nearly $11 million from the State of Connecticut, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and Trinity College Alumni, the Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance (SINA) and Trinity College today announced the scheduled construction of a Community Sports Complex (CSC) on New Britain Ave. in Hartford’s South End.
Designed as an extension of the Learning Corridor educational campus, the sports complex meets one of the key objectives of the original SINA Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative—providing safe space for recreational opportunities and constructive programming for the community. The Complex may be the first urban community athletic facility in the country that connects neighborhood families with the resources of a liberal arts college.
With an expected completion date of fall 2006, the Community Sports Complex will become the newest cornerstone of SINA’s nationally recognized $275-million Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative and provide much-needed safe, recreational space for Hartford children and families. It will also serve as home-ice for Trinity’s men’s and women’s hockey teams.
While in the winter months the neighborhood sports complex will serve primarily as a skating center, the Complex is designed as a true multi-use community resource—with a fitness center, rock climbing wall, community rooms, and more. Borden Painter, President of Trinity College, noted, “In this building and through its associated programs, children and youth will learn the values of teamwork, commitment, discipline, sportsmanship and self-respect.” He added that through a series of mentoring and tutoring programs, including those with Trinity undergraduates, area youth will have the opportunity to see first-hand the benefits of an education, and develop an appreciation of the opportunities presented by pursuing higher education. “We envision children meeting and developing relationships with positive role models who will, in turn, teach them life skills and other valuable lessons.”
Community Sports Complex community outreach programs will be organized on weekends and weekdays after school, a time when, according to Luis Cabán, Executive Director of SINA, city children and youth are at greatest risk and often at a loss for constructive programming, particularly supervised athletics and tutoring programs. “The facility’s size and design will support community mentoring programs, one-on-one coaching, and organized academic instruction for students from local schools and youth programs—these programs will be invaluable for Hartford youth,” he added.
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