Selectmen Forward Turf Recommendation to Capital Improvement Committee

On Wednesday selectmen narrowly approved sending a $1.54 million proposal for a multi-sport surface at Blocksidge Field to the town's Capital Improvement Committee for their recommendation.

After the Board of Selectmen receive the recommendation from the improvement committee, the board members will consider placing the field proposal on the town warrant as a Town Meeting article.

Selectmen Rich Malagrifa, Jill Sullivan and Barry Greenfield voted to send the plan to the improvement committee; Selectmen Glenn Kessler and David Van Dam voted to not send it to the committee.

Supporters said the town has failed to invest in its athletic fields and seen its sod fields deteriorate — some to the point where they cannot be used. The grass fields have faltered under the constant pounding from the now 1,400 Swampscott youth who play sports on them.

Barry Greenfield said the town has spent millions in the last decade on schools, a police station, roads, employees, sewage treatment but nothing on fields.

David Van Dam said an artificial surface is a want and there are more pressing items — needs.

He and Glenn Kessler spoke about the town's flooding and sewage problems with which the town is grappling.

Van Dam said the town has residents who are being flooded out.

He also noted that the Capital Improvement Committee decided earlier to not support a drainage study for the town. 

Christian Urbano said the $1.54 million figure is a highly conservative figure, and that he and others are confident the final price will be less. 

The plan is proposed for three phases with the town paying for the first phase, which includes installation of an artificial surface — larger than the existing field. Phase one also calls for removal of the existing stands, and use of temporary stands on the home side, said Christian Urbano of the field study committee.

The surface would field football, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey.

The committee recommends that the surface be installed with an alternative to crumb rubber for in-fill, thermoplastiche said.

The project's second phase calls for installation of privately funded light towers, for $330,000, and the third phase, installation of grandstands on the home side, also privately funded, for $300,000.

The committee also recommends the town seek state PARC funds to help offset the project's cost.

Last summer selectmen asked the committee to study field needs and how to meet them.  

Last Town Meeting an artificial surface proposal — that called for public/private funding — failed to gain the necessary two-thirds majority.

Selectman Jill Sullivan said the plans, last year's and the one being recommended by the study committee, are very similar except that last year's plan was a better deal for the town.

The study committee's report is attached to this article.