By Chris Griswold '04

The Keith and Creelman families, who protested the building of the field house on the Lower Level, becuase it obstructed the view from their property, moved to dismiss their appeal.

Recently, the families withdrew their appeal after the Academy agreed to move the tennis center one hundred feet closer to the pool. While the number of tennis courts in the center will be reduced from twenty-four to eighteen, this will allow two additional soccer and field hockey fields.

The neighboring families first filed an appeal with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection eight months ago. This was four months after Deerfield Academy received a construction permit from the Town Council of Deerfield.

Several days later, the Boston Globe published the complaint. "That was kind of a tough time period," David Dickinson, girls' varsity tennis couch, said, "because there were different things being thrown around -- some true, some not, but no one could say anything."

Plans are now back on track for the construction of the field house. Headmaster, Eric Widmer said, "The Administration recently received a 'Superceding Permit' from the state, which will allow Deerfield Academy to go ahead with the project, as soon as the appellate authority officially dismisses the appeal."

"The next issue to be dealt with involves the contractors and the Budget Committee. Because more money was spent during the permitting process than had been allotted, all bids from the contractors will have to be reworked for the project to go through," said Mr. Dickinson.

If, as anticipated, the appellate authority dismisses the appeal, the Academy expects to complete the project over the course of the summer.

As published in the April 17, 2002 issue of the Deerfield Scroll, the monthly newspaper of Deerfield Academy.