A football field (with two end zones) is 360 feet long and 160 feet wide for a total of 57,600 square feet. If you exclude the end zones it is less than 50,000 square feet.
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| This. Twice. source: nye.com |
Star Hill’s Family Athletic Center in Tolland is 105,000 square feet. (less than two times the proposed training complex) Inside there are:
· 3 90’x180’ turf fields (soccer, lacrosse, field hockey)
· 2 hardwood basketball courts
· 1 three lane walking/jogging track
It also contains 2 restrooms and some small bleacher areas not listed on their website. Their main facility is 30,000 square feet (smaller than the proposed training complex). Inside there are:
· Multi-purpose rooms
· Aquatic center (6 lane 25 yard pool)
· Fitness center
· Locker rooms
· Rest rooms
· Café
· Pro shop
· Birthday party/meeting rooms
· Arcade
· Administrative offices (not listed on website)
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| Star Hill Family Athletic Center, Tolland. source. |
The White House is about 55,000 square feet.
55,000 square feet is roughly 1.3 acres.
The current site in Simsbury is cited in the State Police's own presentation as being unusable because 1. of its location on a flood plain, and 2. the layout requiring the pistol and rifle ranges to be perpendicular to each other (meaning only one can be used at a time). It is presented to the public as a problem with location, not with size.
So why is a sprawling, 1.3 acre building suddenly necessary- at Connecticut tax payers' expense?
The answer, if there is one, isn't being shared by the State Police.
*55,000 square feet is for the training complex alone. The four gun ranges, control towers, parking lot for 125 cars, and fencing are not included in this number.
