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Council sends $3.226 million parks and recreation improvements article to deliberative session amid questions on lighting, snack shack and skatepark costs
Summary
The council voted to place a $3,226,000 parks and recreation bond on the warrant. Debate at the public hearing focused on relocating Little League fields from Nashua Road to Swenson Field, adding lighting, a skateboard park upgrade and a concession/restroom building; council recommendation was split and recorded as not recommended (3–4).
The Bedford Town Council voted Jan. 22 to move a $3,226,000 parks and recreation bond article to the deliberative session. The article covers multiple items: relocating Little League fields from the Nashua Road complex to the Swenson Field complex, installing field lighting, replacing the Earl’s Legacy Park skateboard facility with a poured‑in‑place design, and constructing a concession/restroom facility.
Why it matters: Town staff said Nashua Road sits on a former landfill and cannot be excavated for new posts, fencing or permanent lighting. Little League representatives described field scarcity that they say risks turning players away unless fields are moved and lit for evening practice.
League data and needs: Daniel Fisher, speaking for Bedford Little League, said the organization rosters roughly 650 players across spring, summer and fall and fields about 35–40 spring teams. Fisher said the league needs more practice time and that, if Nashua Road fields become unusable, the league could be forced to limit registrations. “We are Bedford Little League, so we are almost entirely Bedford residents,” Fisher said, describing the program’s participant base.
Skatepark and concessions: The proposal includes a replacement skateboard park budgeted at up to $800,000 and a concession/restroom “snack shack” budgeted at about $700,000. Ian Moultonberry, co‑chair of the Rebuild Bedford Skatepark Committee, said the prefabricated ramps at the existing park are deteriorating and that a poured‑in‑place concrete facility would be more durable. “If you build it, they will come,” he said.
Lighting, noise and control: Neighbors asked how lighting would affect abutting properties and how late fields would be used. Residents and Recreation Department speakers described modern LED fixtures and apps that can limit operation times; the town said final lighting design and planning-board review would follow if the article advances.
Funding mechanics and fundraising: Staff confirmed the warrant allows the council to accept federal, state, or other aid and to reduce the bond amount if donations or grants are received before bond sale. Town staff said any fundraising collected before bond sale would reduce the amount needed to be sold. The article text includes an additional $17,121 for bond issuance costs.
Council action and recommendation: Councilor David Gilbert moved the article to the deliberative session, and the motion to move passed 7–0. On the council’s recommendation vote, the record shows a split recommendation: the council recorded that it does not recommend the article by a 4–3 margin (council language to appear on the warrant will reflect that split).
Ending: The article will be debated at the town deliberative session on Feb. 3; councilors noted that the warrant can be amended at the deliberative session and the council may hold a special meeting afterward to reconsider its formal recommendation if the article is changed.
