Major Expansion and Improvement of Athletics Facilities Featured in Master Plan for Pleasantville Campus

September Groundbreaking Scheduled for Project that Includes Varsity Field House, Turf Fields with Lights among Numerous Program Upgrades

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y.– When ground is broken next month for the revitalization of the University’s Pleasantville campus, it will mark the start of the most extensive expansion and improvement project since the campus opened 50 years ago this fall. The fully approved four-year Master Plan will result in the consolidation of the Briarcliff campus at Pleasantville and include a wide range of important improvements including significantly expanded and upgraded athletics facilities. 

The Athletics Department component includes reconstruction of the Peter X. Finnerty Baseball Field with a turf surface and lights for practices and night games. Pace Field, home to the football and lacrosse teams will be renovated to a synthetic surface with lights, a 2,000 seat arena, and a press box. The new field will be the home for Pace football and lacrosse, along with women’s soccer.  The addition of two new turf facilities to the Pleasantville campus will result in a more robust intramural program, an exceptional game day atmosphere as well as a game day facility for youth and high school teams throughout the region.

Other athletics-related improvements include creation of a new softball field behind Dyson Hall to replace the field now at Briarcliff and construction of a varsity field house with locker rooms, administrative offices, a varsity weight room, sports medicine training facilities, along with concession and ticketing areas.

“We are extremely pleased to be making these major improvements and additions to our athletic facilities,” said Director of Athletics Mark Brown. “The Master Plan will transform the Pleasantville campus to meet all aspects of today’s student life, creating an enhanced experience in learning, living and athletic opportunities. Every member of our department takes pride in our athletic programs and the new facilities demonstrate Pace’s commitment to our athletes and all of our students.”        

In addition to the athletic facilities, the Master Plan includes construction of new residence halls, an expansion of the Kessel Campus Center, relocation of the Pace Environmental Center to an expanded site of the campus and an overall reorientation of the campus to a pedestrian-friendly design.

The following is the projected timeline for the $100 million first phase of the plan. 
Fall 2013- Construction begins on new residence halls and relocation of the environmental center.
Summer 2014- Construction of turf baseball field begins (completion Spring 2015).
Summer 2014- Construction begins on new athletic field house
Fall 2014 - Construction of new softball field on the Pleasantville campus begins.
Spring 2015- Construction begins on new multi-purpose turf field and related facilities (completion of field August 2015)

About Pace Athletics: Pace University is an NCAA Division II member of the Northeast-10 Conference that sponsors 12 intercollegiate sports. Pace also sponsors a Spirit Squad which includes Dance and Cheerleading teams. In the Spring 2013 semester, 54% of Pace student-athletes achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or higher with nine recording a perfect 4.0 GPA. Pace finished tied with the fourth highest percentage in the 15-member conference. 

About Pace University: Pace University is a comprehensive, independent University with campuses in New York City and Westchester County. Nearly 14,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the Lubin School of Business, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, School of Education, School of Law and College of Health Professions. http://www.pace.edu