The J.R. Payden Field House and Payden Park Field project was made possible because of a public – private partnership between the City of Derby and a generous donation from a private donor. The project included the construction of a new athletic field house building, a new synthetic turf baseball/softball and multi-purpose field, and LED sports field lighting. In order to accommodate the expanded footprint of a baseball field in the location of the former varsity softball field, the ledge hill along first base had to be cut back. The hill was then reinforced with a geogrid and cement wall, while the rock material removed from the hillside was processed on site and used for fill material around the new field house building.
The multi-sport field is utilized by football and soccer in the fall and baseball, and softball in the spring. Adjacent to the field, the new field house contains four sets of locker rooms, a weight room, a trainers room, a laundry room, concessions, and a banquet room. The athletic director, coaches, and officials have separated offices and there is even a sports memorability room showcasing Derby, as well as professional, sports memorabilia. The facility truly is one of a kind and is an incredible experience not just for the athletes, but also for the spectators.
KBA also provided design and construction administration services for the adjacent DeFilippo Field & Track at Derby High School project.