The turf is going down on the Witter Street fields little more than a block from Bishop Ireton. Check them out behind the gas stations and Land Rover dealership.
It has been a promise for years, new artificially turfed fields just two blocks from Bishop Ireton. Cardinals will have some relief from the crunch of outdoor fields that has plagued the School nearly since its inception. “Yeah, but when?” is the common refrain. “I’ll believe it when I see it. Where are the fields again?”
Part of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge project, the undertaking is funded with federal and state transportation money, but the “keys” will be turned over to the City of Alexandria upon completion. With the help of the Bishop Ireton athletic booster club’s donation of two electronic scoreboards, the fields will be ready with two rectangular, artificial turfed fields to host soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, as well as rugby, Gaelic football and a host of recreational activities. The far east end of the complex will see a softball field with natural grass, currently earmarked as TC Williams High School’s new softball home. Parking, rest rooms, sheltered areas are also park of the design. The City anticipates the completion of the turf fields by mid April.
“This is a great addition to the City and to Bishop Ireton.” said athletic director Bill Simmons of Bishop Ireton. “Our booster club has shouldered the task of helping Ireton put its money to work in a unique partnership that the City values and recognizes. Thanks to the boosters and generous benefactors, like Passport Auto, we provided scoreboards to Frank Mann Field, our city-designated baseball facility, and Luckett Field, our assigned varsity softball field. These are quality facilities. Witter will be the same thing, allowing us to play soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey on state of the art fields. We are very excited about the progress and the City’s willingness to share the 3-6pm timeframe with us during the school year.”
The fields are hidden between the CSX rail lines and the businesses along Duke Street, from the Shell station to the animal hospital. The Victory Temple Missionary Church sits on the corner of Witter Street and Duke on the south (right side) of the street as you travel from BI towards old Town Alexandria, one block from the Cambridge Road intersection with Duke Street.
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