Members of Philip Broome and Tim Lester’s families joined City leaders and staff Thursday to celebrate Legacy Park – a recently transformed athletic complex whose new name was inspired by their late loved ones.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony occurred on one of two recently turfed, multi-sport fields at the Cox Road complex, which has seen significant interest and activity since reopening in August. That was the intent after the City purchased the property – once home to a company’s semi-pro soccer team and then to several athletic and soccer clubs – in early 2020, then set about creating and execute a plan to maximize its value to the community.

Parks and Recreation Director Tom McKlveen opened the event by welcoming attendees to “the newly reimagined, newly removed, and newly named Legacy Park.” He spoke of the sports facility’s decades-long history culminating in the latest projects that now allows for lacrosse, soccer, football and baseball players to use it in all weather and all seasons.

McKlveen thanked some of the many involved in this effort, including Milton’s Mayor and City Council as well as Matt Fallstrom and Josh Rogers from the City’s Public Works Department.

He was followed by Scott Stachowski, the chair of Milton’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. This committee, known as PRAB, consists of seven volunteers who share their perspectives and insights with the City on park facilities, programs, and more. This includes being an integral part of holistic, citizen-driven, long-term planning like the 2027 Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan (viewable here: https://www.miltonga.gov/home/showdocument?id=2726). In that document, Stachowski noted “the most glaring need was more field space” – something the purchase and upgrades at Legacy Park helped address.

The City contracted with Advanced Sports Group (ASG) to improve the facility. On Thursday, ASG Project Manager Matt Duckworth thanks the City for being a good partner while referencing the upgrades, parts of which are visible and part of which are not – like six inches of stone and a drainage system under the cushioned, lined turf.

“Our community loves its sports,” Mayor Peyton Jamison said, and what’s happened with Legacy Park should serve them well. He noted what’s been done in the last 5-plus years to improve and expand Milton’s parks facilities while predicting even more positive change in the years to come.

The Mayor then explained the process to name the park, which began in July. Mere days into the public phase of this campaign, the community suddenly lost Philip Broome – a beloved Milton High School and local club soccer coach – which led to an outpouring of suggestions to name the facility after him.

One frequently shared idea was to incorporate “legacy,” given how Broome frequently asked his athletes to think about what impact, or legacy, they’d leave behind. That got City leaders to consider others who made a difference in Milton parks and recreation circles like longtime PRAB member Ron Hill, Milton Steelers football pioneer Van Kottis, and the inimitable Tim Lester. A star before moving to Milton as an NFL player and “Bus Driver” for Jerome Bettis, Lester became a coach, mentor, inspiration, and legend in his adopted hometown before passing from COVID-19 complications in early 2021.

The City Council ultimately decided on the Legacy Park name to honor Lester, Broome, and others who have positively impacted our community, on and off the field.

Jacob Broome thanked the City of Milton and said that his family – about a dozen of whom attended Thursday’s ceremony – could not be more proud that this complex that his brother, Philip, had once coached at and maintained was now called Legacy Park.

He was followed by Alan Brock, a former Milton Steelers president and close friend of the Lesters.

“If we all had our choice, this would be named something like Celebration Park,” Brock said, adding that all would much rather have their loved ones – including Lester, Philip Broome, and others lost too soon – physically present to be part of the celebration. “… Unfortunately, the lord didn’t have that in his plans.”

Yet Brock said he thinks those being honored, through the name Legacy Park, were looking down from heaven at Thursday’s ceremony smiling at the honor, the transformed facility, and how it can serve as a second home of sorts to hundreds of young and old athletes.

After his moving remarks, Lester’s widow Natalie joined Broome’s family in a ceremonial ribbon-cutting on one of Legacy Park’s fields.

The 8-acre athletic complex is at 170 Cox Road, near the intersection with State Route 140/Arnold Mill Road. Those wishing to rent one of its lighted turf fields can email Thomas Rhodes at Thomas.Rhodes@miltonga.gov.