If they clear it, will anyone come?
Vernon may soon find out.
For the past few days, crews have been clearing brush at the overgrown site of the former New England Sportsplex. At first glance it seems like a cross between the Field of Dreams diamond in the cornfield and a plain old mowed hayfield.
But the clearing work has turned heads coming off the Interstate-84 eastbound exit ramp.
''My son noticed it and I did a double-take,'' said Mayor Jason McCoy of a weekend revelation.
McCoy said he has had several conversations with the landowners in his two terms as mayor, but nothing recently has surfaced about a definite tenant, he said.
''I think they are just clearing it up to start marketing it,'' McCoy said.
The property sits at 117 Reservoir Rd. - state Route 31 near the Tolland line for those keeping close score. It is visible from I-84. Town land records indicate it is owned by Diamond 67 LLC of Vernon and Ceruzzi Holdings of Fairfield is formally marketing it.
No one working with the property at Ceruzzi could be reached for comment on Tuesday.
The property was once of thriving sports complex for softball and volleyball, but it closed several years ago and the land is now overgrown and the buildings have fallen into disrepair.
It has been courted by big-box developments like Home Depot, but nothing was ever worked out.
McCoy has never mentioned the term ''big-box'' for anything in town during conversations about the land and in numerous economic development reports to the Town Council.
He said the sportsplex land has potential.
''I hope we can find a buyer,'' he said. ''It is a good commercial location.''
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