BATH
They’re closing in on the fundraising goal for installation of a state-of-the-art turf surface at McMann Field — some $40,000 to $50,000 away.
It’s going to happen. But while the Bath Department of Parks and Recreation and the nonprofit Fields for Our Future cannot remove their sights from the finances, implementation is also a key consideration.
Ideally, the organizations would like to begin what appears to be a six-week project as soon as Morse High School graduation in June, so the new turf might be ready for fall sports.
“As we’re getting close to our goal, we just need to get our ducks in a row,” Bath Department of Parks and Recreation Director Steve Balboni said.
A Building Committee must first be established, Balboni said.
That and other issues pertaining to McMann Field are listed as discussion items for Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall.
Balboni said the City Council in 2010 established specific steps that should be taken regarding the field, including the establishment of a Building Committee.
Balboni said he is not sure if the council itself would appoint that committee. “We’ll know a lot more after Wednesday,” he said.
Though there are no contracts yet, Balboni has been in touch with Northeast Turf of South Portland.
Once workers begin tearing up the grass, Balboni said, the entire project might take six weeks.
If work begins in late June or early July, the new field turf could be ready for Morse football, soccer and field hockey games this fall. The Shipbuilders use McMann Field for lacrosse games in the spring.
Should work not begin in time, Balboni said, Morse would play its fall sports on the grass field, and the project would begin in November.
With winter approaching, that would allow “less of a window” to complete the field turf installation, he said.
Much of the infrastructure for the project is in place, Balboni said. Following installation, grading and drainage work would follow.
“The turf goes down fairly easy,” he said. “Then you’ve got to go in and sew in the lines.”
McMann Field is all set with its scoreboard and bleachers.
“That’s what helps us as far as pricing,” he said. “A lot of that was put in a few years ago. We’re really just kind of dealing with the turf issue.”
For more information on Fields for Our Future, contact Lu Lozano at 443-4136 or visit http://fields4ourfuture.org.
lgrard@timesrecord.com
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less