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12/20/2022 08:46 AMSupporters broke out into applause on Dec. 14 at the Representative Town Meeting (RTM), after a unanimous voice vote approved a $400,000 appropriation from Branford’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund to get the ball rolling on Branford playing field consulting services.
The services will be linked to Walsh Intermediate School (WIS) athletic field improvements to bring in a multipurpose field/sports facility, and developing a strategic plan for future needs and uses of town-wide athletic facilities. Branford has received $8,257,021 in APRA funding.
As described in a letter to the RTM submitted by the Branford Parks and Recreation Department, there is a “pressing need for the construction of a multipurpose field, replicating the sports facility at Branford High School.” The letter further states, in part, that “The imprint for such a complex already exists at WIS. Developing the existing facility would not require further land acquisition.”
The letter also notes surrounding acreage could support a baseball field which would alleviate current scheduling challenges due to Branford already being in need of at least one more baseball field.
The letter concludes that “...renovating the field which already exists at Walsh Intermediate School, and creating an innovative, modern all sports facility for the use of a myriad of sports teams and leagues, youths and adults, organized groups and individuals, would be a solid investment and improvement for our town, and a huge step in achieving our department’s goals to promote a healthy quality of life for our Branford residents.”
Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove previously sought and received approval from the Board of Finance (BOF) for the $400,000 ARPA appropriation. The request was then sent to the RTM Ways and Means Committee, which recommended approval to the full RTM for a final vote on Dec. 14.
In a letter to the BOF, Cosgrove said discussions with Parks and Recreation Department staff, local sports organizations representatives, coaches and residents went into the determination that Branford needs to address the athletic fields in town in order to provide “greater availability and play ability.” He cited current field conditions and field inventory are “...stressed to meet the demand due to changes in trends in sports.”
Residents attending the Dec. 14 RTM meeting included 2 who came before the RTM to say Branford comes up short in comparison to other area towns’ sports facilities visited during seasonal play.
Barbara Leete, a Harbor Street resident, said Branford’s fields were pretty comparable to other towns when her kids played sports in town in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, but now, with grandchildren in middle school and high school, the fields are in need of improvement.
“We need to do something with these athletic fields. They’re really in dire need of improvement,” said Leete, in part. “We are way behind all the other towns. Their facilities are much better than ours.”
Jennifer Orlando, a Peddlers Drive resident, said she and her husband are active in youth sports and are following their parent’s footsteps raising their kids here, currently 6 and 10. She urged the RTM to “act now and accelerate this.”
“We are very behind in this town,” Orlando said the RTM, in part. “You need to know that families are leaving because of the sports. We have an $88.2 million [WIS] school with dirt on the side, and we need to accelerate this now. We need this; or you will lose young families like myself and younger.”
The RTM also heard from a youth softball player who said other towns have dugouts at their fields while Branford teams have benches under trees which can be distracting.
The RTM’s approval gives a green light to hire consulting firm BL Companies (Meriden), which won a Town-issued competitive bidding process. The scope of work involves 2 phases. Phase 1 will be design, permitting and construction administration for the WIS field. Phase 2 involves developing an athletic facility strategic plan with written goals, plans, objectives, and policy statements to create a roadmap for future Town athletic field development.
Speaking to the RTM on Dec. 14, Cosgrove said that, with regard to the WIS phase, construction could be underway within a year and a half, based on BL Companies’ next steps.
“They have to go through permitting [and] the regulatory process. That will take a few months; and then they will hopefully catch the next construction season,” said Cosgrove.
Development of the strategic plan will involve public meetings and other input gathering efforts involving the community.
Specifically, the RTM approved an increase on Dec. 14 in the ARPA fund budget from $2,327,000 to $2,727,000 for an appropriation for consulting services related to the WIS athletic field, improvements and the development of a strategic plan for athletic facilities town-wide.
The Dec. 14 RTM was live streamed on BCTV Facebook where it can be viewed in its entirety.