Recreation staff presents seven CIP projects, including possible turf at Forest Field

Recreation staff told the Londonderry Recreation Commission that seven projects were submitted for the town’s capital improvement plan and that the school presentation is scheduled for Tuesday the 21st at 6:00 p.m. in Moose Hill. "As part of the CIP, we submitted 7 total projects," the staff member said, adding the CIP committee will rank projects during their review.

The most prominent item discussed was a proposal to convert one Forest Field to artificial turf. Staff described the turf option as a strategy to reduce irrigation, mowing and fertilization costs over time but cautioned that initial capital costs are high. "It comes out, I think it's they usually do a 10 to 15 year run" before reaching breakeven, the staff member said when asked about payback assumptions.

Commission members asked technical and operational questions, including whether to turf only the infield or the entire diamond, and about turf quality and repair costs. Staff noted options range from infield-only turf to fully turfed fields and that choices affect both performance and price. Examples from nearby communities were cited to show different approaches: some fields have an all‑turf infield and grass outfield while others are fully turfed.

Staff also said the commission will explore grant funding to offset costs; possible sources discussed elsewhere in the meeting include the Land and Water Conservation Fund. No formal decision or motion to fund a turf conversion was made during the meeting; staff said the CIP committee will rank and present projects as part of the FY28 planning process.

The commission will hear more details when the projects are presented at the school meeting and during subsequent CIP committee deliberations.