ROWLEY — A plan to build an active community recreation area on a 9-acre parcel of the former Bradstreet Farm area is moving forward. It is awaiting approval for funding from the Community Preservation Committee, which would result in inclusion of the plan on the Town Meeting warrant in May.
For the last year, Tim Southall, vice chairman of the town's Parks & Recreation Committee, has been working with Meridian Associates on a feasibility study that identifies practical active recreational uses for the land.
According to the plan, which was approved by the Board of Selectmen earlier this month, the preliminary design for the property includes two ball fields, an all-purpose field for lacrosse or football, an area for two tennis courts or a tennis court and a basketball court, and top-of-the-line skateboard park. Costs are estimated at more than $1 million.
"Goal No. 1 with the new plan is to get the kids off of playing at Hayley Field (on Route 133), which abuts the town water supply," said Southall. He noted lack of parking, an oftentimes wet field and the possibility that the state could shut down the field at any time due to its proximity to the water supply as reasons for moving from this location.
The Bradstreet area, which is behind Pine Grove School, will be accessed via the school entrance, as is now done with the soccer fields behind the school. Parking will be expanded beyond the current gravel area, allowing access to the new fields.
Southall presented the plans to the CPC late last week, seeking $1 million to move forward with the project; and while committee members were very receptive, they asked Southall to break out the project into smaller deliverables to allow for a phased-cost approach. Southall will present this updated plan at the CPC's February meeting.
Southall foresees that it could be a five-year plan with the two ball fields being the priority, followed by the all-purpose field.
"We've worked very hard in the last year to work out the practical uses of this property and are hopeful to secure CPC approval in time to move this project to vote at Town Meeting in May," said Southall, who indicated that the next steps would be securing bids for the work and hopefully breaking ground during the summer.
Estimates to complete the earthwork on the area, including bringing in an estimated 20,000 cubic yards of fill, are nearly $400,000, with the preference for artificial turf on the fields adding significant up-front costs but in the long run saving $25,000 a year for field maintenance and upkeep of a grass field. Artificial turf allows a longer playing season, as well, due to the fact that excessive rainfall does not render the field unusable, nor does the field need time "to rest," as does a grass field, Southall said.
"This is a great thing to get the kids in town outdoors in the community and away from the Xboxes," said selectmen Chairman Bob Snow. "This is a great location and exactly what we need in this town."
This recreation parcel is part of the 102-acre historic Bradstreet Farm property that the town purchased in 2007 for $2,750,000 in CPA funds. The Bradstreet Land Use Committee worked on the subdivision of the land and carved out four parcels, one of which is the 9.06-acre parcel for the proposed recreation areas. The three other parcels consist of 6.96 acres for the historic house and barn, which the selectmen are trying to sell with a historic preservation restriction, approximately 100 acres of conservation land and two acres for an affordable-housing development.
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