Griswold - Despite the projected six more weeks of winter, the group overseeing the creation of youth athletic fields on Sheldon Road is poised to return to work on the site.

"As soon as the weather breaks we want to be ready," Sheldon Road Fields Committee Chairman Paul Madonna said Monday.

Several bids have been advertised for items from fencing to field irrigation and hydro-seeding to timber rail to outline the edges of the interior access track. The work will likely begin in the spring.

"We still intend to have kids on it in the fall. That's why we need to get these bids out so we can get the project going," committee member John Faulise Jr. said.

In September 2008, the state Department of Environment Protection gave the town the 5.5-acre property after it had initially asked for a portion of a state-owned property across the street.

Once completed, the site will include a large playing field for soccer, football and other teams, a practice field and a walking trail that will follow the Glasgo Pond shoreline.

To date, the group has received about $150,000 in state grants and private donations to complete the project.

Madonna said a project of this scale could have cost up to $500,000 to build. He estimated that about $200,000 worth of work has been completed through in-kind donations from several area construction firms or subcontractors.

One of the remaining bid packages will be advertised in March for the scoreboards. The group received a $15,000 commitment letter from the Jewett City Savings Bank to pay for them.

The project was approved by the wetlands and planning commissions in late 2008 and early 2009, respectively. But before the two-story fieldhouse - including space for concessions, bathrooms, storage and a community meeting room - can be built, the plan must be resubmitted to the planning commission for architectural review.

Madonna said the group is in the process of finalizing the design proposal now and hopes to present it to planning commissioners soon.