With private funds used to install synthetic turf on two of Westport’s athletic fields, the athletic community is turning to taxpayers to help pay for the turf on two final fields.
The Staples synthetic turf football field was completed in time for this fall’s play. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com file photo
While the Field of Dreams Committee raised $1.5 million to install the turf on the Staples High School football field and the Wakeman Park soccer field, it hopes the town will pay for one of the two final fields, said Parks and Recreation Director Stuart McCarthy.
The Parks and Recreation Commission will discuss the proposal by the committee—made up of individuals who support town sports—during its meeting today at 7:30 p.m.
McCarthy said the $1.5 million for the final two fields has not been raised to date, but the committee would commit to raise $800,000 for the P.J. Romano Field at Saugatuck Elementary School.
The committee would ask the town to pay to complete Ginny Parker Field—which is used for field hockey and lacrosse—at Staples, he said, and if town officials do not agree it could take another two or three years to raise the money for the final field.
“There is a possibility they could not raise all of the money,” McCarthy said.
Having taxpayers pay for the final field, he said, means the final two fields could be constructed at the same time.
Several hundred thousand dollars have been raised for the final phase of the turf fields, he said, and said if people feel it is a good project they should continue to contribute.
McCarthy said he and others believe there is support among the town’s elected officials to pay for the final of the four fields since there were comments during the first phase about the town paying for the project.
First Selectman Gordon Joseloff said the project merits serious consideration because a private group raised the money for the first phase of the project.
“Some may even say it’s the town’s responsibility (to install the synthetic turf),” he said. “I would seriously consider the project, and I hope RTM and Board of Finance members do the same.”
McCarthy said a recreation fee increase to help pay for the fields would be part of any conversation on the project.
“I think it’s reasonable to assess user fees to these sports organizations,” he said.
The sports organizations, he said, are moving towards being operated as businesses with fewer volunteers involved.
The organizations hire paid instructors and coaches, he said, and if that’s going to be the case, they should consider paying to use the fields.
“How that can be done and be fair needs to be discussed,” he said.
I prefer to think of all four fields are 25% unfunded (if that is the percentage). Two are constructed and there are two more to go. The question may be, “Does the Town want to give the fields another 2 – 3 years to obtain the funding”. I believe it is fundamentally unfair to imply that the Ginny Parker Field is somehow a lower priority than the other three fields.
Charlie Haberstroh
Board of Finance
Huh? Of course the upgrading of the fields is prioritized, based on usage and interest from the community. The Town can change the priorities or accelerate the process by funding these upgrades, or we can wait for the Field of Dreams committee to raise the additional funds for the next two fields.
The building of FOUR turf fields in Westport is totally unnecessary and is a waste of taxpayer money.
In my neighborhood, Wakeman Park can no longer be considered a town park. It is slowly turning into an exclusive school field and a rental property for the town with new signage that further limits access to the park during school hours. During the summers, Wakeman is rented out to sports camps, and on fall & spring weekends the parking lot is so full, even neighbors can’t find a spot to park.
The Field of Dreams original project was overly ambitious—what small town needs that many turf fields??—and, so it is no surprise, now, that the Town is being asked to help pay for the project,after all—fork over another million dollars here, another million there.
A better use of taxpayer money would be to beautify the little park off of Exit 17. It’s a major gateway to Westport, and a real eyesore. It’s embarassing that it is someone’s first impression of this great town.
I agree. The Town has no obligation to install turf just because some fund-raising group with a melodramatic name—FOD (Field of Dreams)—couldn’t raise enough money for their 4 pet projects. Every day, Westport is losing its once natural beauty due to large-scale tree removal & landstripping for construction projects. Now, we’re even losing our natural grass fields to thick plastic astroturf. UGHH.
The Field of Dreams project is a nightmare.
While there is no obligation to install turf, there may be good financial reason to do so. I don’t know what the maintenance costs are for these various fields, but with 2 daughters in soccer I know how chewed up they get with very frequent use. If turf installation is cheaper in the long run, it should certainly be implemented.