Field plan has holes in it
Lincoln’s baseball, softball fields are not ready for prime time, says school athletic director
LInColn BAllfiElDs are not ready for spring use
r LINCOLN – Athletic Director Greg O’Connor says “deplorable” field conditions at Lime Acres Park and the need for additional improvements at Chet Nichols Field could leave the softball field at Saylesville Park the only viable athletic field in town available for spring baseball and softball next month.
O’Connor, the schools’ athletic director since last August, appeared before the Town Council Tuesday to present the results of a recent assessment of athletic fields in town, including the baseball and softball fields at Lime Acres Park on Old Jenckes Road, which O’Connor called an “embarrassment and dangerous.”
“I don’t feel comfortable putting any middle school kids out there the way that field is now,” O’Connor said. “It’s embarrassing and it dangerous for the kids.”
According to O’Connor, the baseball field has flooding issues and was under eight inches of water when the assessment was made. Moreover, there is no irrigation, the field is overgrown with grass, there’s a three-foot drop at the second base line and a gaping hole in front of the pitcher’s mound.
“It’s a liability issue. We’re talking about a kid breaking an ankle, including kids comd ing in from other communities,” he said. r The softball field meanwhile has its own problems, including improper drainage and grading.
“Moss has overtaken the field and the infield is 15 feet bigger than it should be,” O’Connor told the council.
As for the Chet Nichols Field next to Lincoln High School on Old River Road, O’Connor says the School Committee voted to spend up to $50,000 to repair the field, including a new irrigation system. Some of that work has been completed or ongoing, but O’Connor says there are still other issues of concern there, including a five-foot hole near the left field fence and problems with the bullpen.
“Right now, Saylesville Park is the only viable field we have in town for spring sports,” O’Connor said.
O’Conner says the town and schools need to come together and come up with a strategy to maintain the fields on a regular bases.
“I’m not saying it’s the town or the schools, but we have to work together,” he said. “This isn’t about me coming here with a pitchfork and saying I need money for the fields. The point of this is to bring it to your attention because I can’t just turn a blind eye to it.”
When Councilman Bruce Olgi asked O’Connor if the schools had a person to maintain the fields, O’Connor appeared hesitant to answer, saying that was a question better directed to the school administration.
“If this is that much of a priority, shouldn’t the School Department consider desig- nating someone to exclusively maintain the fields or hire a third party to do it?” Olgi asked.
In addressing the issue, Town Administrator T. Joseph Almond said the town has historically dedicated capital project funds every single year to an athletic facility, which has totaled millions of dollars over the years. He said at one time the School Department did have a grounds crews that the town worked with every season.
“The schools used to have an outside maintenance crew and dedicated employee to ensure the upkeep of the fields, but that no longer exists,” he said.,
Almond said the responsibility to maintain the fields falls squarely on school department.
“The town cannot maintain the fields for the schools unless the town is going to take control of the funds that are dedicated to the school budget for the maintenance of those fields. It’s that simple,” Almond told the council.
“The town funds the schools, which is supposed to include maintenance of the fields that the school teams play on,” he added. “The town funds the schools generously, but it does not determine how that money is spent.”
School Committeeman John Picozzi, who was at Tuesday’s meeting, asked the council to work with the School Department and come up with a plan.
“What we’re asking is town for is to help us come up with a viable and sustainable plan,” he told the council. “The town also uses the fields. It goes both ways and we should help each other out.”