On March 21, the Cranston High School West Alumni Association hosted its first meeting seeking volunteers to help with the planned public-private partnership focused on renovating Cranston West’s football field and athletic facilities.

The meeting drew past and present athletes and coaches, along with school staff, administrators, alumni, City Council members and others from the community. Also present was Tony Liberatore, director of Cranston’s Parks and Recreation Department and head of the stadium project.

David DiMaio, president of the alumni association, said the group hopes to fund new bleachers, a new press box, new restrooms and a new snack bar to complement the installation of new synthetic turf, lighting and a scoreboard.

Plans call for the field to become be a multi-sport complex lined for football, soccer and lacrosse, providing the same kind of versatility as Cranston Stadium.

Cranston West football coach Tom Milewski said the project will be good for the city. He also said the revitalized sports facility will help convince student-athletes who may be considering attending another school to stay at West.

DiMaio asked those alumni present to consider the groups they were a part of during their high school years and to reach out to other alumni to seek support for the field project. The association plans to form a building and construction committee and is also hoping for help from community partners.

“I don’t want this to be a full-time job for anyone,” he said. “I want everyone to take a little piece.”

Cranston’s grant writer, Lisa Kirshenbaum, has submitted a grant to the NFL, which if received will bring in an additional $250,000.

“We’ve met every requirement for the grant,” DiMaio said. “Now, we just keep our fingers crossed.”

Many who were present reminisced about their own memories of playing sports at Cranston West before the field was deemed to be unusable, and cited the issues that student-athletes have when they need to travel to and from home games, from team morale suffering to safety and transportation issues.

Liberatore gave an updated timeline for the project, saying he hopes to be able to start work prior to the planned July 1 date. He agreed strongly with the need for students to be able to play home games on a home field.

“Cranston High School West students should never, ever be playing on a field at Cranston East. We are going to do this for the students,” he said.

DiMaio spoke of the role Cranston West has played in the lives of countless city residents.

“I am the person I am because of Cranston West, and that’s why I’m giving back,” he said. “Because of the institution, we are the people we are, and we have the friends we have because of West.”

Those interested in being a part of the project can contact DiMaio at davidcdimaio@gmail.com or 588-1313.