By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough-The construction of the city’s first synthetic turf athletic field will begin late spring next year at the 1LT Charles W. Whitcomb Middle School if the City Council approves a proposal by Mayor Arthur Vigeant which was presented at the Nov. 3 council meeting.
“This is an exciting moment for our community and is made possible through the local option meals tax that we dedicate to our parks and recreation facilities,” Vigeant stated in a communication requesting a bond for $3,855,059. “Since the start of this year, we have had a small committee working together with a design team to assess our fields and help guide us in identifying the best possible field to renovate as our first turf field. The Middle School was ultimately identified as the best place to begin for maximum utilization by the community, high school and youth athletic groups.”
The Marlborough High School (MHS) baseball and track facility and Ghiloni Park’s athletic fields were also considered.
The bond will also pay for a new track and a building for concession stands, restrooms, maintenance and storage which will allow the facility to serve as a competition venue and help ease the demand on the city’s other natural grass fields, according to the report submitted to the council. The four-lane track around the synthetic turf field will support the Middle School’s physical education programs and will provide additional means for passive recreation for the community’s walkers that would otherwise use the high school track. A recreation path connecting the Bolton Street Senior Housing to Stevens Street through the Middle School athletic fields will also provide access and additional means for passive recreational experiences, the report stated.
The study committee was comprised of representatives from the city engineer’s office, Department of Public Works, MHS Athletic Department, city’s recreation department, Youth Soccer Program, and the mayor’s office. If and when the bond is approved, a design firm will be engaged immediately to prepare bidding documents. Bids will be invited in November and design meetings presented to the city in December, followed by necessary steps leading to construction in late spring.
The mayor’s request was referred to the Finance Committee for study and recommendation.