The Morphing Of Fairfield Hills

To the Editor:

After I read last week’s article titled “Baseball Diamond Gets Priority At FFH,” I felt as though I had overlooked the “fine print” when I voted in 2001 to fund $21.8 million for Fairfield Hills.

Five years ago, Newtown’s taxpayers passed a $21.8 million package for the purchase of Fairfield Hills and associated projects. Those projects centered around financing for a master plan, playing field construction, asbestos removal, renovating Shelton House for municipal offices, building renovation and demolition, environmental insurance and associated costs.

The timing was critical because Fairfield Hills, we were told, would address the serious shortage of playing fields. The initial plan included four multipurpose fields, two full-size baseball fields, two softball fields, and two youth baseball fields and the retention of two existing youth baseball fields.

But in last week’s article, we learned that the ten new athletic fields described in the plan have been scaled back to one priority 90-foot baseball field in the immediate scope of work. And the following quotes by the Fairfield Hills Authority and Acting Recreation Chairman Edward Marks suggest that the public may not have read the “fine print” in 2001 when they approved the $21.8 million:

 “A consensus was the 90-foot field was a priority, other needs are down the road.”

“We never saw ten new fields; we saw that as the total after all was said and done.”

“We may get by with less.”

“Just because five years ago they said they needed [ten] fields...now they are looking at the best way to proceed — what’s most cost-effective.”

 “Depending on what may transpire with [artificial] turf at Fairfield Hills or elsewhere [our] needs may change, we may get by with less.”

“Down the road may be fields associated with a school...it may take care of some fields.”

“Other [fields] are to be done at later dates when needed.”

“Time has passed; I think we need to be creative with finding sources of funds to keep moving the master plan forward.”

“We knew the estimates were not necessarily realistic, we know we’re going to have to come up with finances at Fairfield Hills.”

The Fairfield Hills purchase by the town was a smart move for Newtown. Creating the Fairfield Hills Authority was not. The public has to regain some control over the project, or it will stall when the authority is forced to request additional funds and taxpayers turn them down. The cuts in the number of ball fields is only the latest in a series of changes that are slowly morphing FFH into a place of business rather than what the public envisioned in 2001. Before we know it, the authority’s priorities will leave little room for the playing fields, trails, a pool center, schools, community and cultural spaces, senior and teen centers, open space and for whatever else lies ahead.

Kevin Fitzgerald

24 Old Farm Hill Road, Newtown                             August 29, 2006