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New Canaan officials say McKinnon baseball field on track; turf delivery, weather remain key risks
Summary
Town staff reported the McKinnon baseball field project is on schedule and budget but noted a large turf purchase and winter weather/frost remain the main risks to meeting an April installation target.
Town staff told the Board of Selectmen on Feb. 4 that work on the McKinnon baseball field is on schedule and on budget but that a large turf purchase and winter weather could affect the project timeline.
Mike (staff member) told the board the project had $1,655,000 expended as of Dec. 31, 2024, on a $5,000,000 project (about 33% of budget). He said the team estimates the project is roughly halfway complete in time, and if the turf — a single line-item just over $1 million — is set aside the remainder of the work is a little over 40% complete. He said dugout and backstop work is already underway and should be coming online this month.
The board heard that the contractor remains confident the turf installation can meet an April 1 target, with operational buffer into mid‑April tied to the start of the varsity season. Tiger (staff member) said the main risk is frost in the ground: fine grading for the turf requires very tight tolerances and frost would prevent that work. Staff stressed that rain followed by deeper frost would present the primary schedule threat and that fully blanketing the entire field to remove frost is not feasible.
On materials, a board member asked whether the EPDM rubber used in the turf infill is recycled; staff replied the EPDM is virgin material and has been used on the town’s other turf fields. Staff said the town previously met state environmental agency criteria when turf concerns were first raised years ago.
Project leaders described contingency plans: focusing first on the turf and critical appurtenances (dugouts and backstop) so the field could be used for early home games if surrounding work (walkways, landscaping) must be delayed. If necessary for the first home games, the town could use Mead as an alternative venue.
Questions from selectmen focused on weather risk, the contractor’s ability to maintain work-area temperatures for concrete and backstop work, and whether schedule buffers would be sufficient. Staff said winter operations (tents and heated work areas) are possible but add cost; they expect a go/no‑go decision in mid-to-late February.
The board did not take a formal vote on the field at this meeting; the item was an informational update.
