We ask voters to vote “yes” on Articles 17 and 22 at Town Meeting on May 3 to buy land on Old Mill Road—to be used for a multipurpose athletic field—and for the renovation of Harvard Park. These articles are funded by dedicated funding sources using Community Preservation funds and would not increase property taxes.
Opponents of additional and modern facilities make several arguments, none of which should lead you to reject the warrant articles to improve our athletic fields. We urge our neighbors to consider the significant benefits that new multipurpose fields can bring to our youth and the community as a whole.
More children, particularly girls, are playing more sports, like lacrosse, that weren’t sponsored in Harvard 20+ years ago. Girls lacrosse in Harvard has grown since the inception of Harvard Youth Lacrosse in the 2000s, after the Charlie Waite Field was developed. The youth program and Bromfield lacrosse are forced to rent expensive artificial turf fields outside of Harvard for nearly a month at the beginning of the season because grass fields are too wet to play on before the middle of April. Beyond the limits of grass during early spring, a common argument is that we have plenty of fields and the town doesn’t maintain them. This is simply untrue. The Bromfield and town girls lacrosse program play on Bromfield field in front of the library, a space that lacks drainage and safe grading.
As of this writing on April 22, lacrosse has not been able to host home games yet this season. Another rainy stretch may result in only one or two home games in our eight-game season. Lacrosse and field hockey also lose access to Bromfield field during the weeks of Bromfield graduation, July 4, and the Flea Market, forcing teams to play away games and practice as nomads around town.
The Depot Road fields, the primary soccer fields, are ground to dirt despite irrigation and overseedings. Harvard Park and Rec and the Select Board support better maintenance of existing fields, having conducted multiple engineering studies to generate data and recommendations. Gross overuse can be remedied by adding new grass fields to allow resting and repair of existing fields; or by renovating existing fields with artificial turf. The 2023 Gale Report on Harvard’s field needs assessment highlights several deficiencies in the current field infrastructure. We urge people to review the findings.
Another argument is that sports can use fields at Devens. However, Devens is a busy and sought-after destination for sports tournaments due to its large field complex. We pay a market rate to use them; and Bromfield teams need to be bused there. From early April to November, the Devens fields are full due to tournaments almost every week. Devens’ unique and lucrative ability to host these tournaments makes it unrealistic to think they would lease a few fields to Harvard, taking those fields offline. Their activity schedule can be reviewed online if you wish to take a look.
Families that work late or on weekends, single-parent households, or households in difficult financial situations for whom driving to Devens, or a last-minute game moved to an opponent’s field 40 minutes away, suffer real hardships and more strikes against kids playing healthy recreational sports. We ask our neighbors to support the idea of quality fields that are accessible in Harvard.
Well maintained fields are not just beneficial for youth sports. Improved fields support adult leagues for soccer, lacrosse, softball, and ultimate frisbee, offering great ways for adults to stay active, socialize, and enjoy these sports. McCurdy Track is used every day by community members for its safe and level walking surface that melts snow faster than roads. Well-maintained fields and surrounding areas can also be used for walking, jogging, and other recreational activities, promoting a healthy lifestyle for all age groups. Improved trail access is planned between the Harvard Senior Center and McCurdy Track, and we welcome improvements at other facilities in the future that improve accessibility and use for all Harvard residents. While outside the scope of the Town Meeting articles, possible improvements in the future to accessibility and permanent restrooms are amenities that everyone can enjoy.
We ask voters to support the good work in these articles instead of waiting for a perfect solution. We think they are well planned by Park and Recreation and respect Harvard’s character and finances, so please come to Town Meeting on May 3 and vote “yes” to expand and modernize our athletic facilities.
Peter Kelly-Joseph is president of Harvard Youth Lacrosse and a director of the Harvard Athletic Association. Dennis Coyne is a youth lacrosse coach, and both are parents of lacrosse and soccer players.
