By Joan Bowen
Dateline: February 3, 2015
Roy Sorenson, Director of Public Works, presented the plan for the development of the Liljegren/Mudge Way field (a.k.a. Saint Michael’s field) at the February 3 meeting of the Selectmen. He reviewed the process that has led to the recommendation for the construction of one natural turf field and the realignment of the existing baseball field. The plan for the general area also includes refurbishment of the football practice field.
The field will be constructed for multi-purpose games only use. It will be sized to accommodate soccer, field hockey, lacrosse and football games. Natural turf was selected over a synthetic surface because it is more appropriate to this particular site.
Sorenson commented that while experience to date with the synthetic turf on Sabourin Field has been very good, increasing the usability of the field from 40 to 600 hours, DPW thinks it is advisable to continue to assess its use and maintenance before expanded use. Natural or synthetic turf will be part of the analysis of what to do with all future field development.
Selectman Mike Rosenberg said it appeared that the impact on the wetlands will be reduced. He asked if this would reduce the mitigation requirement. Sorenson responded that the impact is not as significant as it appears. The mitigation requirement is not reduced by the selection of the new layout.
The Selectmen reviewed the proposed site design agreement with Symmes Maini & McKee Associates and approved it. The engagement is in anticipation of the approval of funding from Community Preservation funds at Town Meeting. The current estimated construction budget is $1,600,000. The design cost will be $106,100.
Correction: The current estimated construction budget is $1.6M, not $1.1M as originally reported; and a corrected slide has replaced the one originally shown with the story.
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