Region 4 reviews $9.97 million athletic-fields budget; FieldTurf outlines maintenance schedule

On Oct. 29 the Region 4 Fields Renovation Advisory Committee reviewed an athletic-fields monthly budget report that lists a grand project total of $9,966,000 and itemized construction and oversight costs. The report shows total construction costs of $9,509,199, with various phase- and line-item breakdowns for Phase 1 and Phase 2 work, owner oversight, bond costs and town contributions; several line items are recorded as 100% complete.

FieldTurf provided a recommended maintenance and replacement schedule for synthetic surfaces and related site elements. Recommendations included planning for synthetic turf replacement on a 10–12 year cycle for budgeting purposes (FieldTurf said some systems should last about 15 years), professional FieldCare service yearly (or twice per year if usage increases), weekly reviews of high-use areas for infill levels during seasons, and track structural respray in years six to eight with up to two resprays before replacement. For grass fields, the recommendations included aerating about every two years and overseeding each August until turf is established.

The committee affirmed that FieldTurf’s maintenance recommendations would be added to the administration’s financial planning and budgeting in future years. Committee members reviewed contingency figures and phase completion percentages and requested continued reporting on costs and scheduled maintenance.

The advisory committee set a follow-up timeframe, requesting a meeting in the first week of December to revisit permit outcomes and any budgetary implications derived from the Land Trust review and CIWC process.