Field Master Study

At a glance

What: A consultant presented the field master study, covering 17 town field sites (30 fields). Using a sports turf managers association standard of about 300 allowable hours per field per season, the study found every field used at over 200% of capacity (Hills Field about 623%) and a need for about 94 fields versus 30. Options discussed: reduce use, move use to existing turf fields, more maintenance, and synthetic turf conversion (one turf field equals three to four grass fields).
Short list of seven: Major renovations at Hills, Luciano or North Union, Poets Corner and Spy Pond fields; minor renovations at Magnolia Park, Robbins Farm or Summer Street fields, and Thorndike Field. Only five get conceptual designs and cost opinions.
Discussion: Thorndike is in a flood plain with wetlands, so little can be built there; commissioners disagreed about lights and turf at Hills; one commissioner asked for underserved sites to be considered; a data gap remains on how much the high school still uses town fields now that its turf fields are open, and staff will contact the athletic director. A commissioner noted "Spy Pond Field" should not be confused with Spy Pond Park.
Outcome: No final vote; the commission is expected to narrow the list. Poets Corner is also tied to a Community Preservation Act application (see Poets Corner Community Preservation Act Preliminary Application).

Based on auto-generated captions of the video; names and numbers may be misheard.

2026-10-13 - Park and Recreation Commission - Consultant presentation on field use data and a seven-site short list.