Sports complex opens for Newtown kids

NEWTOWN, Conn. (WTNH) -- A sports complex in Newtown has become a safe haven for young ones since the Sandy Hook shooting.

They're letting children be children and the extra playtime is really helping them cope with such a terrible tragedy.

For 4 years the Newtown Youth Academy has been the place for kids to play.

"My heart broke that day," said Peter D'Amico.

D'Amico funded and built the sports center. After the shooting he sat down with all the leaders of the youth groups in town.

"We all got together and said, okay, what can we do to begin the healing process," said D'Amico.

The answer was to open up the soccer fields and the basketball courts and the whole building to anyone who wanted to use them.

On the first day 5,000 people came through the door.