New Sports Fields Idea Floated
Selectmen with opposing positions on the artificial turf proposal presented last spring were aligned when it came to field ideas on Wednesday.
Selectmen Glenn Kessler and Barry Greenfield stood in opposing camps on the artificial turf field proposal presented at Town Meeting back in May.
Wednesday they were working together, floating ideas for redesigning Phillips Park field space to accommodate two soccer/field hockey fields side-by-side.
The fields would be turned sideways, lighted and separated by 30 feet.
Kessler and Greenfield believe that with a new layout for all the fields that the town could get six fields at the park, including new ones being built by Columbia Pictures for providing space to the movie Grown Ups 2 last summer.
Having multiple fields would reduce the pressure of so much usage of the fields.
Field space has been a hot issue in town after a proposed artificial turf field was voted down at the last Town Meeting.
The town's Athletic Field Study Committee met again last Thursday night as they continue working on proposals for restoring the fields.
Amy OConnor
7:56 am on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Louis, rather than a big spend, a unanimous vote to reconfigure. I'd say this is getting priorities straight. With infrastructure projects looming, this decision looks like an opportunity to better current assetseasily so they don't later require more $ and so financial focus can go where it should.
Citizen Swamp
10:33 am on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Maybe our BOS could do a "back of the envelope sketch" as to what they are talking about? If you treat Phillips Park as a blank canvas you could certainly reconfigure.
Reconfiguring would result in having to close down grass fields for at least one or two growing seasons.
Selectman Kessler mentioned moving existing bleachers in his BOS comments, maybe he could expand on that comment.
CS
Bob Crombie
2:36 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
last estimate was for $5.1million to do the whole park
shame there's no private funds to help pay for this
why the change of heart i wonder? does someone on the BOS have a contractor in mind?