Recreation Complex a Big Hit

Built in 2004, the Cross Farms Recreation Area is a recent development in Tolland, but it certainly doesn’t fall short of any expectations one might have for a hidden treasure. Located on Rhodes Road, neighboring Birch Grove Primary School, the park sprawls across 100 acres of land.

features three soccer fields, two baseball fields and more than one mile of hiking trails around the park’s outer limits, which connect to the nearby high school. A Family Fitness Trail is also available for leisure walking or jogging. All of the trails are embedded in the woods, providing not only satisfying exercise but an enjoyable view, too.

The unique element of the park is not the sports fields or fitness trails, however, but the Professional Disc Golf Association certified 18-hole disc golf course. For those who haven’t heard of it, disc golf is similar to traditional golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, you use a flying disc or Frisbee. People of all ages and from surrounding towns come to play this newly popular sport, and this particular course allows you a walk through the woods while you play.

Steve Supina, a Stafford resident, comes to Cross Farms a few times a month to play on the course and to get some exercise with his dog, King, he said.

“This place is pretty nice. Wickham Park is too big, too open, there are no trees. The course here is more challenging, too,” Supina said. This disc golf course is the only one of its kind in Tolland.

The soccer fields at Cross Farms make the park a hot spot for soccer enthusiasts and clubs. President of the Tolland Soccer club, Bob Jenkins, said, “It’s a fantastic complex and one that Tolland Soccer Club takes a lot of pride in. Visiting teams love playing games at this complex…one of the best in the region.”

Five years ago, the soccer club partnered with the town of Tolland to make the fields something to be proud of. A seven-year loan was taken out and the community and local businesses made significant contribution in money and labor. Jenkins said that about 4 to 5 inches of soil were added to the fields, an irrigation system was installed, a well dug, a storage shed built and the fields were completely reseeded. That portion of the complex was then closed for one and a half years, reopening for the first time last year.

“We continue to work to keep this investment going for our kids,” Jenkins said recently.

Games and practices are scheduled to prevent overuse of the facility and the teams do what they can to avoid playing in the rain as a way to maintain the “high quality playing surface for soccer,” Jenkins said. “Like Tolland baseball and the Frisbee golf, we are very proud of being able to have such a wonderful complex for our community,” he said.

The Tolland Soccer Club and the Ray Reid Soccer School also organize a soccer camp for boys and girls ages 5- to 13-years old at the complex during the summer.

In addition to the soccer fields, there are two baseball fields, one with 90-foot bases and another with 60-foot bases. In addition to residents and visitors, local baseball leagues use the fields.

New assets are in the works for Cross Farms Recreation Area. An ADA-accessible playground for children with special needs and health challenges is in the beginning stages, and with the warmer weather, the park will definitely be buzzing with games and activity. Keep an eye out for new updates regarding this beautiful facility.