The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved moving $850,000 from the 2027-28 CIP year to the current year, 2026-27, at its meeting on October 19.

The move follows the failure of a turf field earlier this month and the cancellation of all use of the field for the rest of the fall season. According to Parks & Recreation Commission Chairman Clinton DePaolo, the turf is made of three levels, the turf carpeting, a layer of rubber pellets that cushions impact, and a layer of gravel underneath. There are sections where the gravel has been exposed, making it a danger for the town's athletes to use.

According to a press release earlier this week, First Selectman Bruce Walczak said he worked closely with the Parks & Recreation Department leadership, and they decided to announce the closure after a series of tests determined the materials comprising the playing surface had deteriorated to a level where the field’s condition was simply not safe for further use.

“The safety of people, especially our young sports players who use the Treadwell turf field for practice and games, is paramount,” Walczak said. “We know this will create some scheduling challenges for the remainder of the fall, and next spring. But the current surface condition provides no alternative. The responsible decision was made."

While it was hoped that the condition would sustain play at least through the fall of 2026, heavy weekly use by upwards of 1,000 young football, lacrosse, and soccer players hastened the surface deterioration. Those visible conditions prompted both users and Parks & Rec staff to express concerns, according to Newtown’s Assistant Director of Parks Carl Samuelson.

See a full story on the announcement and its effects on Newtown's sports teams on page B-1.

The town had initially planned to do the work over the summer of this year, but a referendum question on a combined project for the turf and new lighting at Treadwell Field failed at the April Budget referendum, 2,017 no to 1,261 yes. The project included a $1,125,000 special appropriation for the turf field and a $275,000 bond authorization for the lighting.

However, $850,000 of the $1,125,000 special appropriation was paid for through fees paid by the users of the Treadwell turf field, according to Finance Director Glenys Salas.

"If we're collecting money from the teams but not using it for the fields, it’s problematic," said Salas. "It's not being responsible with the fees."

The new CIP item for this year, since it no longer includes the lighting which would have been paid for by taxpayers through bonding, does not have to go to referendum as it is being paid for through use of the fee money.

Following the failure of the project at referendum, the project was divided into the fee-paid turf section, in the 2027-28 CIP year, and the lighting was kept as a separate item in the same CIP year. The Parks & Recreation Department was hoping that the field would last out the year until the new CIP cycle finished. However, its failure forced the new action by the selectmen to move it to the current year so that work can begin as soon as possible.

DePaolo said there is a ten to 12 week lead time to get necessary materials for the field turf to the town. The hope is to begin work in April.

"It'll be a tight fit," said DePaolo.

The Board of Finance and Legislative Council both have to also approve the move of the CIP project.

Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.