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Commission directs staff to explore options after volunteer group signals it will stop field prep
Summary
The commission was told volunteer group FLAW plans to stop doing field-prep work in 2026; staff outlined three options (in-house public works, contract, or shared service with schools) and was asked to return with cost estimates and recommendations.
Park and Recreation staff told the commission that volunteer group FLAW has indicated it does not want to continue field-prep work at Fenway Fields in 2026, prompting a discussion of how the city will cover mowing, irrigation and specialized field prep.
Dave Adams reviewed three options: have public works take the work in-house (which would require hiring staff and buying equipment), contract the work to a third party, or arrange a shared-service agreement with the school district or another local entity. "If it's in house with public works, you have an eye on what you're doing, but then you're adding staff," Adams said. He said contracting out is an option but would reduce direct oversight, and that shared-service arrangements have both advantages and complexities.
Commissioners pressed staff on cost analysis and timing. Several noted seasonal staffing challenges: the heavy prep work is concentrated in early spring (March–April) while seasonal hires typically start in June, and the city would need clear budget direction by September if hiring or equipment purchases were required. Commissioners also discussed opportunities for joint capital purchases — for example, a GPS-operated line painter — to avoid duplicative spending across the city, schools and FLAW.
Direction and next steps: the commission asked staff to explore all three options, coordinate with the school district and FLAW, and return with cost estimates and a recommended approach for maintaining athletic fields going forward.
