To show their support for a proposed multimillion dollar athletic field complex, members of the Capital Planning and Investment Committee at their Dec. 22 meeting approved the transfer of $50,000 into a stabilization fund to be used for the project.
Last September, three town committees—School, Open Space, and Parks and Recreation—joined in seeking $4.5 million for a proposed athletic field complex. While the long-term project is expected to take five years to complete, it could address capacity issues among Harvard’s playing fields. Land for the fields is estimated to cost $1 million, and an additional $3.5 million could be needed for the construction and development of the fields and amenities.
“The point is to have some funds available and a commitment from the town,” said SusanMary Redinger, who represents the School Committee on CPIC. If the funding is approved at Spring Town Meeting, $50,000 will be put into a stabilization fund for the athletic fields complex, thereby beginning the process of selecting the site for the project and acquiring the land. “When the property is identified, they would have some funding to be able to go and do a preliminary study on the cost and full development of it,” said Redinger.
School Superintendent Linda Dwight said the committees backing the proposal are now seeking a financial commitment from the town to establish the recreation fund. Since $50,000 would not be enough to purchase the land, it would serve as a placeholder and a means of initiating the project if the town approves. The town would also have to vote on the purchase of the identified land with its final cost.
Members of CPIC discussed whether the $50,000 to be transferred from the Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund, Harvard’s savings account for large projects, should be used specifically for an architect. Dwight said that tying the money to an architect might not work. “An architect might not take on a job to study a property that the town doesn’t own, for a potential project yet to be determined,” said Dwight.
The legality of creating a stabilization fund for the athletic fields complex was also up in the air during the meeting. CPIC Chair Nate Finch, who wants to move this project forward, said the committee’s motion to approve moving $50,000 into a stabilization fund still needs to be reviewed by the Select Board.
“I think if we are going to create a new fund, and if we’re going to investigate the legality of it, we should also investigate creating maybe a parallel, civic community process to contribute to funding,” said CPIC member Jeffrey Lin. Since the project is estimated to cost the town millions of dollars, Lin said finding a way for the community to directly contribute to funding could alleviate some costs.
