Adams Proposing Sprinkler System For Valley St. Field
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The Parks Commission has been advocating for increased upkeep of the Valley Street field since June. |
ADAMS, Mass. — The town administrator will be proposing spending about $15,000 to upgrade the Valley Street field.
The sports field is used for practices and games from the Adams Soccer Club, Little League and the Adams, Cheshire, Savoy Youth Soccer Association.
Last June, Adams Soccer Club President Stephen Vigna asked the Parks Commission to help because the field had suffered damage from increased usage, neglect and abuse — such as vehicles driving on them.
Vigna said his club, the Little League and the travel teams would contribute toward fixing the lawn watering system that was installed in 1999 but no longer functioning and hoped to the get field into a regular maintenance schedule. The Parks Commission then decided that upgrading the field would be a priority.
But on Monday, Town Administrator Jonathan Butler said he will instead ask the town to pay for the entire cost of upgrades. The leagues will be asked to stay off the field completely from July on so it can be reseeded. Additionally, he wants the town to take control of the irrigation system so it isn't neglected. The leagues have been responsible for it.
"The town would like to have responsibility of them. We have a full-time staff to take care of it rather than have the leagues do it," Butler told the Parks Commission. "I am willing to put it in my proposed budget."
According to Dave Nuvaille, parks supervisor, the sprinkler system for the Little League field would cost about $3,100 and the soccer fields would cost more than $9,000, according to estimates he received. Butler said those would be the capital costs and the reseeding will be taken out of the Department of Public Works budget.
ACS Youth Soccer Association President Mark Piacenti said the leagues are still willing to chip in for the cost but having the town cover the entire amount would allow them to invest more into their own operations.
"We would like to see the town pick up the entire cost of it," he said.
As long as the park is still available to public and not "locked up" with gates like Renfrew Field, the parks commissioners said they support having the town pay for it.
"I'm 100 percent in favor of this project. But I don't want to see it locked down," Commissioner Todd Shafer said.
The league representatives said they will do whatever it takes to support the project and brainstormed different fields they can ask for permission to play on this summer. Vigna said he could even play an entire season without any home games.
"Both organizations are willing to do what ever we need to do to advocate for this project," he said.
The two youth soccer programs serve about 300 children in both the spring and the fall and the field is used every day for practices and games. The field was used even more last year because high school teams used it for practice while the Hoosac Valley High School was under construction.
Tags: parks & rec, parks commission, sports fields,
