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Select Board approves CPA application for Codgers' softball field after split vote
Summary
The board voted 3-2 to authorize a Community Preservation Act application to repair and improve the softball field at 340 T Ticket Highway (used heavily by the Cape Codgers). Supporters said the field needs leveling, new fences and irrigation; opponents raised concerns about irrigation amid water constraints, Article 97 protections and the $500,000 cost.
The Select Board on Aug. 10 authorized staff to submit a Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding application to improve the softball field adjacent to the School Administration Building at 340 T Ticket Highway, voting 3-2 after extended discussion.
Julie Williams Tinkham, the town's recreation director, told the board the field is in disrepair: "The outfield fence is not safe," she said, and described ruts, uneven outfield surfaces and storm damage that make the field unsafe for the Cape Codgers and other users. She said the organization fields as many as 350 participants and regularly maintains the site but that a larger investment would make the field safer and more usable.
Board members who opposed the measure raised several concerns: that installing irrigation raises questions given regional water constraints, that the property may be protected under Article 97 (which would complicate future changes in use), and that $500,000 may be better spent elsewhere. One member said the town lacks a strategic prioritization of capital needs and worried about putting significant funds into a location that may be used differently in a few years.
The motion to authorize the CPA application passed 3-2. Supporters argued the improvements are cost-effective compared with building a new field and recognized the partnership with the Cape Codgers to maintain the site. Opponents asked for additional detail on timeline, expected longevity of the renovations and whether alternative fields had been considered.
Next step: staff will move ahead with the CPA application and, if successful, return with project details and timelines for construction and maintenance arrangements.
