Council moves $3.226 million parks-and-recreation bond to deliberative session after hour-long public hearing on fields, lights and skate park

The Bedford Town Council voted to move a $3,226,000 parks and recreation warrant article to the deliberative session after an extended public hearing that focused on relocation of Little League fields, lighting, a replacement skateboard park and a proposed concession/restroom building. The motion to move the article passed 7–0; a later roll-call recommendation resulted in the council recording a 3–4 recommendation (not recommended by the council) on the article as presented.

Article summary and purpose: The warrant language authorizes issuance of up to $3,226,000 of bonds to fund improvements to the Swenson Field complex, the Nashua Road complex and Townscape/Legacy Park, plus an allowance for bond issuance costs ($17,121 in the warrant). The town manager and recreation staff told the council the proposal would move the Little League “complex” fields from Nashua Road (a former landfill site where excavation and new fence posts are constrained) to Swenson Field, add lighting to newly configured ball fields, replace a prefabricated skateboard park at Earl’s Legacy Park with a poured-in-place concrete facility and repair other…