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Council authorizes topographic surveys for Nashua Road and Swenson fields amid debate over relocation, lighting and costs
Summary
The Town Council voted 4‑2 on May 21 to authorize topographic surveys of the Nashua Road Little League site and the Swenson fields so engineers can prepare design drawings and cost estimates for field reconfiguration, drainage and related work.
The Town Council voted 4‑2 on May 21 to authorize topographic surveys of two town recreational properties — the Little League fields on Nashua Road and the Swenson fields — to support engineering designs and updated cost estimates for field reconfiguration, drainage and other site work.
Councilors and staff spent more than an hour discussing possible approaches: rebuilding and elevating the Nashua Road fields to reduce exposure over an old landfill cap; reconfiguring and expanding fields at Swenson, and whether lighting, parking and restroom infrastructure should be included in initial plans. Director of Public Works Jeff Foote said the town obtained engineering proposals to convert Little League layouts into larger rectangular fields and to add up to five Little League fields at Swenson; staff also consulted a lighting contractor and said Eversource utility upgrades along Jenkins Road likely would not be required for field lighting.
Foote estimated earlier conceptual engineering for full construction was much higher (he cited an example number of about $75,000 for a broader study), but ultimately staff provided two topographic survey quotes: $12,400 for the Swenson parcel and $7,700 for the Nashua Road Little League parcel. Councilor Strand moved to authorize the surveying step for both sites (quotes were discussed during the meeting); Councilor Levesque seconded. The motion passed on a roll call 4‑2.
Councilors who opposed the motion said they did not want town funds spent without clearer public support for a specific final project and expressed concern about the appearance of moving forward without resolving neighborhood questions about lights, parking and scope. Proponents said the survey is a necessary, relatively modest step to allow the town to produce engineering plans and reliable cost estimates before placing a proposal before voters.
The survey will produce topographic data, parking and site constraints and is intended to inform a design phase that could be phased or brought to voters as a warrant article depending on council direction and further public engagement.
