Chances are good you won’t be seeing it on CNN or Fox News, but if Bridgeport High School Principal Mark DeFazio has his way, there will be a barrier built at one venue that is aimed to keep people out. And the venue where he’d like to see it put in place is at Wayne Jamison Field.

 

“After all this work is done here, from the field to the track to the lights, what I’d like to see immediately done is to be able to put up an eight-foot fence in place of the one around the field from the concession stand all the way around the field,” said DeFazio. “It’s a shame we have to consider doing that, but I think we’re headed in that direction.”

 

It’s not that Mark DeFazio doesn’t like people. If you’ve been in the teaching profession for more than 30 years, you have no choice but to be able to not only get along with people and the public at large, but you have to tolerate them.

 

Here’s the thing, DeFazio doesn’t want to tolerate the foolishness any longer that has led to the potential need for the fence. For those that watch the field, they know exactly why DeFazio is heading in that direction.

 

A few years ago, when it was learned that the initial FieldTurf was reaching the end of its lifespan and the school was hoping to squeeze as much life out of it as possible, the BHS administration posted signs up asking for people to stay off of the field unless authorized permission was given.

 

Apparently, the large signs meant nothing to a whole lot of people. Instead of following the new rules they simply ignored the signs. To make matters worse, many didn’t even go down to the entrance under the bleachers to get to the field.

 

“People were jumping over the fence and then going out and doing whatever they wanted to do on the field,” said DeFazio. “I have no idea why they would jump the fence, but they did that and destroyed the barrier we had on top of the fence and bent parts of the fence as well.”

 

While the new fence may or may not happen soon – one thing will happen. In fact, it is officially in place right now and it’s an issue DeFazio admits the school administration has had a hand in creating.

 

“We need to do a better job of managing the field. The first time we put the turf down we let a lot of things happen on the field just to let people see what it was like and be happy with it,” said DeFazio. “This time, it’s going to be different. You’re just not going to walk off the street and use the field.”

 

What that means is that the signs aren’t going to be just there for show. DeFazio said there will be additional monitoring of the facility not only by BHS administrators and coaches, but outsiders as well will be given the authority to ask people to stay off the turf.

 

“There has to be some rules and we’re going to enforce them. We’ll be the bad guys and that’s okay. I’ve been a bad guy for 38 years, but this is a huge investment for the school and community and we have to protect it,” said DeFazio. “If people are on the field that aren’t supposed to be on the field then they have to leave. They’ll be told politely and hopefully those people will respect that and hope the community does too.”

 

That doesn’t mean the track is off limits. Instead, DeFazio said he hopes to continue to see the track get a ton of use by walkers and runners in Bridgeport and even the many outsiders that take advantage of the soon-to-be-installed track surface.

 

“Walkers are always welcome. At the same time, we’re not going to turn the football field into a playground for anyone that wants to kick a soccer ball, pass a football or hit baseballs off of it or have any kind of pickup game,” said DeFazio. “There’s not another high school in the state with turf that allows that. Now, we’re not going to allow it. It’s a shame we have to be so stern.”

 

With all due respect Mr. DeFazio, it’s not a shame you or the school has to be stern. It’s a shame that people refuse to acknowledge the clearly posted rules.

 

Along with a potential new fence, a new field and a new track, let’s hope those that have abused the use of the field in the past have a new attitude. If not, there will be some folks on hand to make sure that attitude is adjusted accordingly.

 

Editor's Note: The large sign displayed above has been ignored by many since its installation several years ago. In the second photo, this sign is being adhered to at many hours as the main gate has primarily been closed that provides access to the track and field. Bottom photo shows Mark DeFazio at the final walk through earlier this week when the turf was officially ruled installed.