Montouri Says Turf Field Won't Require Money From Stabilization Fund

Special Town Meeting voters will ultimately make the decision on whether or not the new athletic field at Tewksbury High has an artificial turf surface. But one thing appears certain -- they won't be asked to tap the stabilization fund to pay for it.

Town Manager Richard Montuouri said this week he believes a recently received state grant, combined with private donations, high school project offsets and Community Preservation funds will be sufficient to pay for the project.

"I'm confident that we will not have to use the stabilization fund," said Montuori, who met Wednesday with the Community Preservation Committee to discuss increasing CPA funding for the turf field from $450,000 to $550,000.

Montuori estimates the overall cost of installing the multi-sport, artificial turf surface would be around $950,000, though he said it could be less. The town was recently informed it had been to be used toward the turf field project.

Another $50,000 has been raised in private donations and roughly $100,000 would come from high school project offsets.

The Special Town Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 8, at 7 p.m. in McGrath auditorium at Tewksbury High. Article 3 in the STM Warrant (attached) will ask voters to approve the use of CPA funds for the turf field project.

The turf field surface is part of what had been an ambitious stadium project voted down by residents last year. The field being constructed, which also includes a track, will not have lights and will have seating for only 500, considerably less than Doucette Field.

A five-court tennis facility was also part of the original project.

According to School Committee Chairman Brian Dick, the surface being considered would come ready-made with lines for football, soccer and lacrosse. Lines for field hockey would need to be added later. However, Dick said the football team is unlikely to use the new field.

"The football team is very happy with the facility they have at Doucette Field. They've got a great locker room up there and a great weight room," said Dick. "(Tewksbury High) is fortunate to be able to play Saturday afternoon games. I think we're the only team in the Merrimack Valley Conference to do that. You can never say 'never', but the football team is very happy with Doucette Field."

In addition to the lacrosse, soccer and field hockey teams, Dick said an artificial surface could be used by the TMHS Marching Band, as well as by the baseball and softball teams as an early-season practice surface. He said the field would also be made available to community youth sports groups for use.

"We've got a real problem with getting kids onto fields in this town," said School Committee member Krissy Polimeno. "We just don't have enough fields."

More specifically, the town lacks quality fields, at least in the eyes of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. On multiple occasions in recent years, Tewksbury High sports teams have had to give up the right to play a home game in the post-season because TMHS fields did not meet MIAA minimum standards.

In addition to the steep upfront costs, opponents to an artificial turf field have raised concerns about the life span of such a field and the replacement costs.

Montuori admitted the artificial turf field has an estimated life-span of 10 years but said the annual cost savings in field maintenance could be used to fund replacement and repair costs. He said the estimated maintenance costs for the turf field is roughly $20,000. But he said that the ability to use the field for multiple sports would actually reduce overall athletic field maintenance costs for the town.

Dick pointed out that another advantage to the turf field is the ability to use it right away in the fall. He said a new, natural grass field would require at least one year and as long as two years before it was ready to be used.