Conservation Commission issues negative determination for Greenleaf Park court conversion

The Springfield Conservation Commission on May 13 issued a Negative Determination of Applicability (Negative 3) for the City of Springfield's Greenleaf Park court conversion project, approving work that will convert existing tennis courts into combined tennis and pickleball courts while remaining within the existing paved footprint.

The determination matters because the project abuts a wetland buffer. The applicant’s consultant said the work will reduce impervious area within both the 50-foot and 100-foot buffer zones, restore portions of perimeter walkways to lawn and use standard erosion controls, and therefore “will not result in an adverse effect to the wetland resource.” Susanna Souza, an environmental scientist with GZA, presented the project on behalf of the city.

GZA told the commission that a wetland delineation at the…