A resolution authorizing an appropriation and financing of $7,650,000 for the Walsh Intermediate School (WIS) field improvement project passed the scrutiny of Branford’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM) on Feb. 29. During a special meeting with many members of the public in attendance, the financing was approved by an RTM bipartisan vote of 26-0-1.

Applause from members of the public broke out in the room following the special meeting’s vote. The meeting was live streamed and recorded by BCTV.

In approving the appropriation and financing, RTM members supported an approval recommendation sent to the RTM from the Board of Finance (BOF). On Jan. 20, during another highly attended meeting, the BOF voted unanimously to recommend the RTM support financing the project.

At the Jan. 20 BOF meeting, First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove summarized the field assessment and project development process engaging community input, and recalled an extensive presentation by the project team which was given to the BOF in November 2023. The project received final regulatory approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) in October of 2023.

The BOF Jan. 20 meeting minutes noted the project also received letters of support from the project from Branford Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Tranberg and Parks and Recreation Director Alex Palluzzi, Jr.

Also at the Jan. 20 BOF meeting, Branford Finance Director James Finch noted $2,000,000 in cash/proceeds leftover from the previous WIS renovation project would be repurposed into the field improvement project.

On Feb. 27, a joint meeting of the RTM Administrative Services and RTM Ways and Means committees reviewed the project and its financing. Concerns about the safety of installing two artificial fields was a sticking point for several RTM members during their review and study of the field. Questions also discussed whether the cost of the project could be put to use elsewhere to greater benefit of the Town, as well as recognizing the additional financial burden bonding the project will add over the next 20 years. Ultimately, both committees voted unanimously to recommend that the full RTM approve financing the project.

RTM Rules and Ordinances Committee chair Peter Hentschel, (D, District 2) said one of the key questions he asked of the project manager (BL Companies) on Feb. 27 was about the safety of the artificial turf materials with regard to the health and safety of children. Hentschel said issues of health and safety included those brought to the committee through information gathered by RTM representative Susan Dahill (D, District 7).

On Feb. 29, Dahill abstained from the full RTM vote on the project.

In committee on Feb. 27, Hentschel said he asked the project manager if the artifical turf materials specification excluded use of any hazardous materials, and if it required testing for hazardous materials.

“The response was ‘yes.’ The specifications do exclude the use of any hazardous materials in the artificial turf, and they require testing before being brought on site for installation,” said Hentschel, reporting to the full RTM on Feb. 29. “However, I did get the actual specifications and took a look at those, and although they do exclude materials with PFAS, they do not specifically exclude other toxins. The specifications only require that the hazardous material test be developed for the materials and reported, but the final acceptance of the project are up to the project managers.”

Use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemical substances (PFAS chemicals) in artificial turf have raised concerns due to the possibility of chemical leaching.

Hentschel also said he did some additional research to find there are several world soccer federation (FIFA)-approved turf systems specifically designed to avoid toxic components.

“My hope is, during the bidding of this project, the team will carefully evaluate the alternative manufacturers, and the health and safety perspective,” said Hentschel. “We want the safest fields for Branford, and for this much-needed project.”

Ahead of the full RTM vote on Feb. 29, the majority of speakers from public, including two WIS students and a youth softball league pitcher, asked the RTM to considering approving the project.

However, one public speaker, recently retired Branford pediatrician Raymond Seligson, MD, said he supported grass fields, not artificial turf fields for the project. He outlined his and other pediatricians’ observations, as well as observations documented in medical literature, on the rise in problems children are experiencing due to play on turf fields. He said the surface creates a greater risk of joint injuries, turf toe, skin injuries, ankle injuries and other injuries.

“You also have to worry about the toxins, which has been mentioned already,” said Seligson. “Heat build-up can be a very real problem, and the other problem I think that has to be thought of is the future of what you do when these artificial turf surfaces have to be taken down...they not easily recycled. [Also] the out-gassing and the other kinds of ecological problems which come about as the result of taking tons of material off of a field that now has to be resurfaced; which does not happen if you are intelligently using the right kind of materials in natural grass, and maintaining it properly without too many toxins.”

As approved by the PZC on Oct. 5, 2023, the project will include dual synthetic turf athletic fields and many more improvements. The project scope incorporates the existing softball field, outdoor activity areas, the current field and track, and surrounding areas. The lower turf field will be striped for football and soccer, and the western field will be utilized for soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey. The improvements involve multiple program and outdoor activities items, including a new accessible playground, accessible walkways, some renovation to extend the softball (right field) and add dark-sky-compliant lighting, a new basketball court that doubles as accessible routes to use different areas, a secondary playcourt with some hard surface play areas, restroom facility, a second swing set, an accessible 14-foot wide walkway that surrounds the dual turf fields, outdoor classroom and amphitheater, a revision to an existing accessible walkway, an outdoor education overlook, new rain gardens, a pollinator garden, and areas around the existing fields given back to create more of an environmental buffer.

Drainage improvements to bring in the dual turf fields involve raising a segment by two feet to level and provide necessary drainage, with needed water capture and catchment infrastructure to include installations beneath the fields to improve storm drainage water runoff.

The field’s carpeting and infill of rubber and sand mix will be required to meet specifications and pre-site delivery testing to ensure the materials meet Department of Environmental and Energy (DEEP) and national standards for safety.

Palluzzi said the project is the culmination of an effort that stretches back 31 years for Branford Parks and Rec, as recognition grew for a pressing need for the construction of a multi-purpose field replicating the sports facility at Branford High School.

The department’s fields need assessment submitted in support of the project noted that, “...over the past decade, Branford’s sports population has grown exponentially and we need to provide facilities to accommodate the correlating increase in youth sports programs, participants and athletic teams. While previously children were introduced to athletics and sports participation during their elementary school experience, programs & leagues presently have widened their outreach to include children as young as three years of age. Branford youth lacrosse, soccer, football and cheerleading are all expanding their numbers of participants, with no physical room to grow within the confines of town fields that are already fully scheduled.”

The project’s timeline involves going to bid in the spring of 2024, with a summer project start.