Five-Year Capital Plan Prioritized—

Pool, Funspace, Artificial Turf Take Top Priority With Park And Rec

By Kendra Bobowick

Taking priority Tuesday evening were artificial turf, an enclosed swimming pool, and the future of Funspace playground at Dickinson Park as Parks and Recreation Commission members listed items in their five-year capital plan. Cost estimates for projects ranged from $5 million to $150,000, said Parks and Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian.

“This is what our plans are, what we would like to see happen over the next five years,” she said.

The commission entertained another round of discussion about where or if a recreation or community center would be possible. In past weeks Ms Kasbarian had termed the need for a center as “desperate,” and mentioned how she had “made the pitch years ago,” to possibly locate a center on the Fairfield Hills campus.

The Fairfield Hills Authority wants specifics.

Acting commission chairman Edward Marks is poised to comply. Addressing others on the commission, he said, “I would like to have a couple people get involved conceptually with a recreation center, I would like to see what is viable and incorporate a pool facility.” He talked about presenting a multiphased plan to the authority.

“We need to sell options,” Mr Marks said. “I think we need to come up with something [prefabricated] or modular so it can go up in stages — give them options.”

He speculated that possibly a pool could come first, or a community center, for example. In past months the need for a pool has become more urgent since Dickinson Pond has been closed and filled in.

Other ideas involved putting a new pool at Dickinson.

Commission member Carlen Gaines said, “Maybe we need to come up with some ballpark figures…”

Mr Marks replied, “We need to evaluate our options for Dickinson and Fairfield Hills, and even look at a third option — first of all we have to get something in place for someone to look at.”

Although the commission tabled talks about a pool and community center Tuesday, Mr Marks concluded, “We need to put together what we need and want and then get professional help to put costs to it.”

Another item ranking on the five-year plan was the proposal of artificial turf for Tilson Field.

Ms Gaines asked, “Is there truly a need?”

Assistant Director of Parks Carl Samuelson replied, “It saves our grass fields. Is it a need or a want? It is both.”

Explaining further, he said, “Can we suffice without it? Well, we have, but it will open up our usage.”

Jumping in, Ms Kasbarian said, “Plus, I don’t see us getting soccer fields at Fairfield Hills for years.”

High school expansions — another ongoing and impending expense facing the town — also factored into the conversation. Mr Marks said, “With the expansions you’re going to lose a field.” He speculated that the likely school additions — one of several options including a new high school that have been proposed to accommodate rising enrollment — will spill over into existing field space.

Also on the capital plan is the playground at Dickinson. Mention of replacing the roughly 17-year-old Funspace caused a tremor among the commission.

Ms Kasbarian noted that Dickinson Park has already lost a pool, and she thinks the public will become very upset if Funspace is also lost.

The Parks and Recreation Five-Year Capital Plan and estimates outline projects on Parks and Recreation’s to-do list including design and engineering for the maintenance facility located at Fairfield Hills ($1.4 million), artificial turf for Tilson Field ($725,000), construction for a recreation center and pool ($5 million for the pool portion), renovating the Treadwell pool building ($200,000), replacing and improving Funspace at Dickinson Park ($150,000), and resurfacing tennis courts at Dickinson ($150,000).

The plan must be submitted to the Finance Department by a June 26 deadline, and then proceeds to the Board of Selectman.