Needham baseball group asks finance committee for $70,000 and new field‑maintenance staff

Andrew Fink, fields director for Needham Baseball & Softball, told the Finance Committee on Jan. 28 that his organization has covered significant maintenance costs for town athletic diamonds and is seeking town support to stabilize field conditions. “Our view is that the town's current approach to athletic field maintenance, the diamonds in particular, is materially deficient,” Fink said, describing repeated closures after rain and escalating long‑term repair needs.

Fink said the program pays roughly $40,000–$50,000 a year for routine maintenance and about $50,000–$60,000 a year for renovations that make fields playable, work he said ideally should be town‑funded. He asked the committee to consider allocating $70,000 in the FY27 budget to allow renovation of eight fields annually; Needham has 24 fields, which Fink said would create a three‑year renovation cycle consistent with DPW guidance. He also recommended the town consider hiring an additional full‑time employee—seasonal or year‑round—to provide preventative maintenance and reduce closures.

Committee members acknowledged the request and asked Parks and Recreation and DPW staff to provide a more detailed presentation. The chair said staff will be invited back for a fuller briefing, likely in March, so the committee can compare the user‑group request with departmental plans and costs.

The committee did not take a budget vote on the request at the Jan. 28 meeting; members scheduled deeper deliberations as part of the upcoming line‑by‑line budget sessions.