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 site was completed in November 2022 and that an order of conditions for the earlier Greenleaf Park redevelopment was issued in early 2023. Because the proposed work is within the existing impervious footprint of the courts, GZA submitted a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) rather than a Notice of Intent (NOI). Souza said the scope includes removing court posts, nets and perimeter fence; reconstructing the bituminous concrete pavement; installing combined tennis and pickleball posts and nets; removing portions of paved perimeter walkways; and seeding restored lawn areas.

Souza said the project will place a sediment and erosion-control barrier along the downgradient edge between the work and the wetland and that the design will decrease overall impervious area in both the 0–50-foot and 50–100-foot buffer zones. “We’re suggesting that the project will not result in an adverse effect to the wetland resource, and are requesting a negative determination of applicability,” Souza said.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about which walkways would be removed and restored, the materials involved and how the new fence and courts would abut the wetland. Souza responded that only the existing court footprint and certain hatched walkway areas would be removed and restored to lawn, that a smaller walkway would remain, and that the erosion-control barrier would be installed at the downgradient extent between the work and the wetland.

After questions, the commission closed the public hearing and voted to issue the Negative 3 determination. The roll-call vote recorded: Commissioner Martinez — yes; Commissioner Alminas — yes; Commissioner Ryan — yes; Commissioner Bongiovanni — yes. Commission staff said the signed paperwork will be circulated to commissioners and the applicant following the meeting.

City staff and the applicant discussed schedule: city staff asked if there were any remaining questions, and a city representative said they expect to put the project out to bid by the end of May and that construction could be completed by late summer or September, depending on bidding and mobilization. Laura (city staff) said she was “pretty familiar with the project” and thanked the commission for the approval.

The commission’s action allows the city to proceed with design elements described in the RDA. The project’s timeline and final contractor selection will depend on the forthcoming bidding process and any subsequent permits or conditions specified in the signed determination.