Nolan Field torn up by ATV Repairs to cost $15,000

James Mills, a caretaker of the facilities at Nolan Field, surveys damage to the football field suspected to have been done with an ATV, in Ansonia, Conn. on Tuesday July 31, 2012. James Mills, a caretaker of the facilities at Nolan Field, surveys damage to the football field suspected to have been done with an ATV, in Ansonia, Conn. on Tuesday July 31, 2012. Photo: Christian Abraham Photo: Christian Abraham Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Nolan Field torn up by ATV 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

ANSONIA ---- Nolan Field, arguably the most important piece of real estate in the city, was badly damaged overnight Monday by one or more off-road vehicles that tore up the turf.

"This is the pride and joy of our city," said Mayor James Della Volpe, who added the Police Department's Detective Division is pursuing various leads.

The mayor said repairs will cost more than $15,000.

"We'll do the best we can to get this straightened out as soon as possible," he said. "Hopefully, the people responsible will brag about it, and we'll find them and punish then to the fullest extent of the law."

Nolan is the home field of the Ansonia High School Chargers, the football team that went 14-0 in 2011, winning the state Class M championship.

"This was a cowardly, senseless act," said Thomas Brockett, coach of the Chargers. "It's really a shame, because they do a really good job taking care of the grass there."

The first varsity game at Nolan is set for Sept. 20, but a youth football league was supposed to begin workouts there Wednesday. The lines had not yet been painted, however; the facility is still in its softball field configuration.

As dusk approached on Tuesday, local residents wandered about the field shaking their heads in disbelief.

"I've lived here all of my life, and I've never seen anything like this," said Bill Pandolfi, who has lived in the neighborhood for nearly six decades.

Field caretaker James Mills said there were only two gates that a full-size vehicle could have fit through; both of those were locked Monday night.

But another opening, by the tennis courts, is usually left open because it's much narrower.

Mills said a smaller all-terrain vehicle could have gotten through at that point; tracks left on an embankment seemed to confirm his hunch. The width of the paired tracks seemed to indicate the vehicle in question was an ATV, and not a four-wheel-drive sport utility vehicle or a pickup truck.

"This is Ansonia's pride and joy here," Mills said.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call police at 203-735-1885.

jburgeson@ctpost.com; 203-330-6403; http://twitter.com/johnburgeson

"Don't know how they got in."

"We come here twice a week," said Rajesh Bangera. "This hurt me just looking at it. It's so sad."

"And the grass was so beautiful yesterday," said his wife, Prasanna.