On Aug. 11, 2025, the Town CIP Committee reviewed the Parks and Recreation Department’s capital improvement plan recommendation for Jones Fields, which lists a Green Monster fence, new playground equipment and swings, accessible walking paths and playing-field improvements with cost estimates and target years.
The recommendation matters because it is part of the town’s 10-year CIP and will determine whether the town continues to save multiple years of funds for larger recreation projects rather than spending smaller warrant-article amounts immediately.
Kelly Trundle, the parks and recreation director, presented the proposal and said the document consolidates items and shows a year-by-year breakdown. “These are all rough estimates,” Trundle said. She and committee members described the plan as largely unchanged from the prior year’s submission.
Committee members highlighted the town’s recent small appropriation for field work and the department’s practice of accumulating funds before completing larger projects. Trundle described the budgeting approach: instead of spending a prior warrant-article amount immediately, the department may save until a larger balance is available. “We might be looking to have $40,000 before we spend it,” she said.
During discussion, committee members noted the current balance and near-term spending plan discussed by staff. A committee member summarized the figures given in the meeting: “It looks like right now, we have about $38,000 ... and next year, we’re looking to spend $30,000,” leaving roughly $8,000 in the account after the planned expenditure, according to the figures shared in the meeting.
The committee and staff discussed schedule items identified in the plan. Committee members asked whether the Green Monster fence would be next year; Trundle and others confirmed that the proposal lists the fence for 2026 and subsequent playground and field actions in later years.
Trundle said the department will provide updated sheets for the next review that reflect current-year amounts and any changes departments submit. She also said the listed playing-field improvements are planned for future years (one entry showed 2029) because recent work at another field reduced immediate need. “They just completed improvements and there aren’t improvements needed at this time,” Trundle said, referring to the most recently upgraded field.
Next steps: staff will circulate updated cost sheets before the committee’s next meeting and continue outreach to department heads for additional submissions to the CIP schedule. The meeting record shows no final vote on the Jones Fields line item during this session.