NEW CANAAN, CT — On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, the community of New Canaan gathered under sunny skies that afternoon to celebrate the long-awaited grand opening of Coppo Field, the town’s new state-of-the-art turf baseball facility at Waveny Park. Families, coaches, local leaders, sports aficionados, and athletes alike came together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and inaugural game that marked a new chapter in the town’s rich baseball history.
The field, named in memory of Joe Coppo, a beloved New Canaan resident, coach, and youth baseball advocate, who tragically lost his life in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, now serves as the official home of the New Canaan High School Rams Varsity Baseball Team. Fittingly, the Rams faced rival Darien in their first game on the new turf, a nod to the nearly 100-year tradition that began when NCHS first played Darien at Mead Park.
During the ceremony, emcee Terry Dinan paid tribute to Coppo’s legacy and the significance of the new facility. “Joe Coppo was a longtime resident of New Canaan and supporter of New Canaan Baseball who graciously volunteered his time coaching and was an active board member,” Dinan said. “Joe’s spirit and legacy lives on in all who take the field to play. We know he would be excited and proud to see the unveiling of the renovated Coppo Field today.”
Dinan added, “For nearly a century, Mead Park was the proud home of New Canaan Baseball. Today, we turn the page to an exciting new chapter. This beautiful field will now serve as the home of the New Canaan Varsity Rams and support nearly 600 players across our town, from tee-ball to high school.”
Town and school officials in attendance included First Selectman Dionna Carlson, Selectman Steve Karl, Public Works Director Tiger Mann, Parks & Recreation Director John Howe, and Superintendent of Parks Ryan Restivo. Also present were Superintendent of New Canaan Public Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi, NCHS Principal Bill Egan, Athletic Director Jay Egan, New Canaan Athletic Foundation (NCAF) founding Chair Mike Benevento, and Board President Ian MacAllister.
Benevento spoke to the scope and significance of the $5 million project, which was completed on time and within budget thanks to a successful public-private partnership between the Town of New Canaan, NCAF, and New Canaan Baseball. “This project increases our town’s distinct turf footprint by 33%,” he said. “While it will primarily serve baseball, the outfield and additional space will be used in the fall for youth field hockey, flag football, and many other sports. It’s an exciting step forward for our youth athletics programs.”
The new Coppo Field features a brick backstop, expansive dugouts, double-barrel bullpens, and a top-tier turf surface. “We could not be more pleased with how every facet of the facility turned out,” Dinan noted, calling the field “a lasting and cherished town asset.”
Adding to the significance of the moment was a special highlight of the afternoon, the ceremonial first pitch, thrown by John Coppo, son of the late Joe Coppo, to officially open the field named in his father’s honor, with his young family by his side.
Additional recognitions were given to individuals who played key roles in bringing the project to life, including Selectman Amy Murphy Carroll, Town Council Chair Mike Mauro, Board of Finance Chair Todd Lavieri, Parks & Rec Chair George Benington, landscape architect Mike Cegan of Richter & Cegan, general contractor Carl Rosa of H.I. Stone & Son Inc., and Scott Kesterich of Atlantic Sports Group.
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