Longmeadow Select Board endorses future donation for new turf field

Date: 9/18/2014

LONGMEADOW– The Select Board voted 4 to 1 in favor of endorsing the acceptance of a future donation for the potential installation of an artificial turf field at Longmeadow High School’s Stadium Field.

The field turf would be funded by donations from Friends of Longmeadow Sports (FLS).

More than 30 residents were in attendance speaking both for and against the artificial turf.

Town Manager Stephen Crane said the vote of endorsement does not mean the donation has been approved. The board will continue discussions with both proponents and detractors for the turf field and examine all the details of the project related to maintenance, replacement, and financing.

FLS began its fundraising efforts on Sept. 15, according to its Facebook page.

George Abbdow, a youth lacrosse and soccer coach, said the cost for the artificial turf would be roughly $30,000 per year and would include the cost of labor and maintenance.

“It would be nice to have the ability to improve our current overused fields as well as have a state of the art field as part of our infrastructure,” he said.

Crane said the cost to the town for the upkeep its fields is not usually given for each individual field; however, the cost for the artificial field is significantly less than current costs.

Selectman Paul Santaniello said Bliss Park and Wolf Swamp Park have areas with a great deal of weeds for their athletic areas and Stadium Field needs to be rested to allow the grass to regrow after athletic seasons.

“Youth lacrosse has to rent space from the [Jewish Community Center] every year,” Shad Hanrahan, a youth lacrosse coach, said. “Soccer programs in the fall rent other fields outside the town because there is not enough field space. So, obviously, part of this proposal is to enhance those youth programs, keep the programs in town, so that we have a field being used four times the amount [as of now].”

Selectman Mark Gold said the installation of artificial turf could cost at least $325,000 and would have a lifespan of eight to ten years. 

Gold said, in his opinion, that this issue needs to be on an article for a future Town Meeting due to the turf field needing to be replaced.

Hanrahan said the FLS would raise close to $32,000 a year on average to pay for the purchase of a replacement artificial turf field.

“If we do come to a shortfall, I’m sure we’re not looking to raise $750,000, we’re probably looking to raise $50,000 or $100,000 at that time,” he said.

Selectman Alex Grant voted against the endorsement, while the remainder of the board voted in favor.

Jessica Reyes, a town resident and economics professor at Amherst College, spoke against the installation of a turf field, voicing her concerns about the amount of lead contained in rubble crumbs from recycled tires that make up turf fields.