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Council sends $3.226 million parks and recreation bond to deliberative session after public hearing; council does not recommend
Summary
A proposal that would reconfigure baseball fields, replace the Nashua Road fields, add lighting and fund an $800,000 skate park moved to the deliberative session. After public comment, the Town Council’s recorded recommendation is 3–4 (not recommended).
The Bedford Town Council on Jan. 22 moved a $3,226,000 parks and recreation bond to the town deliberative session after a multi-part public hearing that drew local youth-sports organizers and residents concerned about lighting and costs.
The project detailed in the warrant would fund improvements to the Swenson Field complex, the Nashville Road (Nashua Road) complex and the Townscape Board Park, and would replace the skateboard area at Earl’s Legacy Park. The warrant authorizes issuance of up to $3,226,000 in bonds or notes and includes $17,121 for estimated bond issuance costs; bond payments would begin approximately one year after issuance and the article requires a three-fifths ballot vote.
Speakers at the public hearing included Sean Marlow, who said the Little League rosters total “around 650 players” across spring, summer and fall seasons and warned that field loss at Nashua Road would force the league to turn players away. Daniel Fisher, a Little League official, said: “We are Bedford Little League, so we are almost entirely Bedford residents,” and estimated only a small number of players come from neighboring towns.
Town staff and facilities committee members described the proposal as a reconfiguration rather than an expansion. The town said the Nashua Road complex sits on a former landfill and cannot be excavated for standard fence posts or lighting, which is one reason for proposing the move to Swenson. The Skatepark replacement was budgeted at $800,000 in the warrant; presenters said that figure is “not to exceed” and that private fundraising would reduce the town’s bonded amount if donations arrive before bond issuance.
Several residents asked about lighting and late-night activity; Little League representatives said typical spring games start at about 5:15–5:30 p.m. and are time-limited so lights would primarily support practices and earlier evening fall schedules. Concerns were raised about the proposed $700,000 concession/snack-shack component; several councilors said fund-raising by local groups could and should reduce the town’s share.
After the public hearing and council discussion the council voted to move Article 4 to the deliberative session and then recorded its recommendation. The council’s recommendation vote recorded three members in favor and four opposed (3–4), which will cause the ballot materials to state the council does not recommend the warrant as proposed.
Ending: The article will appear on the warrant at the Feb. 3 deliberative session; the town said private donations before bond sale could reduce the amount the town needs to borrow.
