A new chapter in Pace Athletics will begin on Thurs. Oct. 9, when students, faculty, staff, alumni, local officials, and athletes gather together for the groundbreaking of the Master Plan’s new athletic fields and facilities.

While the construction has been a bit chaotic, as noted by senior Margo Hackett, it is an exciting time for everyone on campus.

According to Director of Athletics Mark Brown, the construction “[plans] not only show support for our 400 or so student-athletes, but also dedication for the entire Pleasantville community.”

The plan includes the creation of a new multi-purpose field featuring artificial turf, lights, seating for 1,000 fans, as well as an enclosed press box. The new field will be home for the Pace football, women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s lacrosse teams.

Peter X. Finnerty Field will also be converted into a turf surface and will house the baseball and women’s field hockey teams, while also getting new dugouts and lights.

Softball moves over from the Briarcliff campus with a new natural grass field in the southwest corner of the Pleasantville campus, behind Dyson Hall.

The new softball field and field house are expected to be completed by the fall of 2015, while the new multi-purpose field and renovations to Finnerty Field are expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The ceremony will be held on Pace Field at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 9.