Staff recommends transferring Stokes Field to county parks; board seeks clarity on community access and construction timing

District operations staff recommended that the board approve a deed transfer of the revitalized Stokes Field at New Providence Middle School to the Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Department and accept permanent utility easements for a Clarksville Gas and Water water-main project near Rossview.

Brian Lopp of the operations team described the Stokes Field project history, saying the approximately $10.8 million renovation was completed in August 2025 and that the county Parks and Recreation Department had proposed a quick-claim deed transfer. Staff recommended the transfer while retaining first-priority use for New Providence Middle School activities (football, cross-country, baseball and other school programs) and said the deed would include reversionary language if the county stops using the property for organized community sports. "CMCSS will retain first priority use of the ball fields and multi-purpose fields for New Providence Middle School and district activities," staff said.

Board members and a county commissioner asked whether the county would charge community fees for use. Facilities staff said fee levels would be set through the county’s legal agreement and that the district would seek clarification from Parks and Recreation before the formal vote. Mr. Garland said he was concerned that, after completion, community access at other facilities became expensive; staff replied they would confirm typical county fee structures and noted that field use is usually low-cost unless a formal building or tournament rental is involved.

Separately, staff described a Clarksville Gas and Water request for permanent easements across seven school parcels to install approximately 5,127 linear feet of 24-inch water main (about 2.5 acres of easement area). Staff recommended accepting an offered compensation amount of $22,772 to support the installation; construction is anticipated to begin August 2026. Operations staff said they have met with the engineering firm and will require preconstruction coordination, protective barriers and traffic-management measures to reduce safety risks during school hours.

Nut graf: Both items were presented as first reads/recommendations at the study session; staff emphasized continued district priority access for school activities and promised to get clearer fee and scheduling details from county Parks and Recreation and utilities before the required formal board action.

Board members pressed for assurances about public access and construction timing. Staff said Rossview work is planned in field areas that will not disrupt bus drop-off or pedestrian flows, but that Minglewood’s parking-area constraints make concurrent summer-school construction riskier; staff said they will coordinate schedules with county highway and utility departments and with instructional leadership to avoid dangerous traffic conditions.

Ending: Staff will return the Stokes Field transfer and Rossview easement items for formal board action after clarifying fees, final deed language and construction coordination; no final votes were taken at the study session.