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Memorial Field committee continues planning; design estimate pegged at $1.5 million
Summary
Committee discussed conceptual designs, phasing, drainage, parking and potential acquisition of adjacent state land for Memorial Field; design work estimated at $1,500,000 and the committee flagged an immediate need to repair the track (approx. $400,000) to avoid losing its use.
The Concord School District Capital Facilities Committee provided an update April 23 on the Memorial Field project, saying conceptual design work has been presented but that no final design or construction scope has been completed.
"Memorial Field project has presented a few items with regards to conceptual design however no actual design work or scope has been completed yet," Committee Chair Jim Richards said. The committee reported a design-phase estimate of $1,500,000, which Richards and others discussed as covering design, permitting and preconstruction work leading up to ground‑breaking.
Committee members said current discussion focuses on phasing and drainage. "At this point, the committee is discussing the definition of phases. I believe that the overall committee is feeling is that we need to address the drainage portion of that in the initial work," Richards said. The committee also described concerns about parking capacity if both proposed turf fields would be used simultaneously.
Conceptual plans presented to the committee showed two turf fields: one to accommodate a football field and track, and a second multipurpose field suitable for lacrosse and soccer. Committee members discussed retaining recently upgraded tennis courts and reconfiguring field placement rather than tearing down existing amenities.
The committee asked Mr. Gill to return to the conceptual design team with questions about moving fields and redefining phases. Members also discussed the potential to acquire adjacent or nearby state land that contains a drainage corridor and could affect the project footprint.
Committee members warned of near‑term maintenance needs for existing facilities. "The track is weeks away from really being unusable," one member said, noting a band‑aid repair could cost roughly $400,000 but would likely be excavated once construction begins. Members said a track failure could leave hundreds of students without after‑school practice space; they cited roughly "250 kids every day after school" as a usage example.
Timing and sequencing with the middle school construction project was raised repeatedly. Members said lack of available fields in the area'including Runlet fields and Martin Park'means construction could create a temporary shortfall in field availability for school and community programs.
The committee said designers did not attend a recent city meeting and charged Mr. Gill with obtaining follow‑up answers before the next subcommittee meeting, which members expected in three to four weeks. The committee invited public input and plans to continue work with the city on design, funding allocation and phasing.
