Parks & Rec Addresses Concerns

About Hawley Field

By Jan Howard

Concern about the condition of the playing field at Hawley School was raised by a parent at the Parks and Recreation Commission’s meeting December 9 at Town Hall South.

During public participation, resident Brian Halapin noted the need for renovations at the field, including irrigation, drainage, and fill.

According to Mr Halapin, five Pop Warner teams practice on the field. Because of its condition, there is a need for another practice field.

Chairman Larry Haskel said the field has been “overused and overpracticed.” A study would be needed to determine the cost of renovating the field.

Mr Halapin was advised to talk to the Pop Warner board and to list issues that need to be resolved.

Mr Haskel said because the field is town-owned, the commission would probably ask for more control of its use and maintenance.

In regard to maintenance, Parks and Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian said the parks staff now has access to the field at Hawley School mornings from 8:30 to 11 am.

As to additional fields, she noted, “We won’t see any relief until we get fields at Fairfield Hills.”

In other business, the commission discussed maintenance and structural needs for fields with Roy Muraskiewicz of Newtown Babe Ruth Baseball and responsibilities of each organization in regard to those needs.

Mr Muraskiewicz noted that because of weather conditions, it had been a tough year for the playing fields. He especially mentioned the middle school where the outfield, he said, “is waterlogged.” It was noted that a solution to the problem would be very expensive.

He asked the commission for help in maintaining two of the fields at Fairfield Hills. He said if the Parks and Recreation Department helped out with the mowing, the money Babe Ruth spent for that could be spent on other needs.

Mr Muraskiewicz also discussed a program for 5-year-olds that took place in the fall and may take place again in the summer. The program is more structured than the T-ball program run by the Parks and Recreation Department, he said. The children learn the basics, such as hitting, throwing, and catching.

“We do a lot of little drills,” he said, but no games are played.

In regard to the possible replacement of a scoreboard at the Sandy Hook field, Ms Kasbarian said she would need to talk to Planning and Zoning about whether an application would be required.

Mr Muraskiewicz said he would look into the cost of canvas roofs for dugouts at certain fields.

On January 6, the commission is to meet with the board of the basketball league in regard to a letter of complaint from a parent. They will also discuss the direction the basketball program would be taking in the future.

The commission also unanimously approved the expenditure of $1,000 toward a promotional video project that would be created for the department by two Newtown High School students. The video would ultimately be available for use on local TV channels. One third of the cost would be paid at the beginning of the project with the remainder on completion of the project.

Mr Haskel said he has met with a Reed School official, and the school’s recreational facilities are now available for full use indoors. The Reed School playing field, however, would not be available for spring.