FREEPORT

Freeport, Pownal and Durham voters will decide Jan. 7 whether to approve a $4 million proposal for an eight-lane track and artificial turf field at Freeport High School.

Voters will cast ballots on two questions: Article 1 seeks approval of the base project of the playing fields and track itself for a net cost of $1.76 million; Article 2 would include lights for evening play, for a net cost of $2 million

The yearly cost to taxpayers in the three towns over 10 years would be estimated at less than $15 a year if Article 1 is approved. If Article 2 is favored instead, the yearly tax contribution would be below $20. Each town, per its property tax rate, would pay a different amount.

Freeport High School does not have a track and cannot host meets, so FHS athletes play at Bowdoin college per an agreement valid through 2024.

At a public forum Wednesday on the pending vote, more people spoke in support of the project than spoke against it. Speakers included high school students not old enough to vote who spoke of the project’s benefits to the school board members and adults sitting in the cafeteria.

The project would support track and field, football, field hockey, soccer and lacrosse.

Talk about replacing the athletic field behind Freeport High School, where Grade 9–12 students from the three towns attend classes, began in 2002.

“This has been a long time coming,” said Pat Carroll, owner of Carroll Associates Landscape Architects.

Fundraising by the nonprofit Tri-Town Track & Field Project has privately raised nearly $2.8 million in cash and pledges. Nike, Inc., has pledged $1.35 million toward the project.

A new track itself would result in better track meets, said FHS student Lily Horne.

“It would be a great source of community pride, and team pride,” she said.

Not everyone at the night’s forum is eager to see the new track and field take shape. Concerns included noise caused by more people attending games, including those at night.

Freeport High School is on Holbrook Street, not far from the bustling retail downtown. This part of Freeport is densely settled and congested at times, with motor or pedestrian traffic. Resident Kathleen Meade said more outreach to people who live next to the high school grounds is needed.

“It’s not OK,” Meade said. “We’re in the middle of all the people already.”

Meade questioned the safety of using Nike grind for the artificial turf field infill and the track surface. She said that substance still is not well studied.

“It’s not about being against education or kids or healthy sports,” said Meade.

“People do not come out and speak up because the reaction is awful,” Meade added.

“I see no downside to this project,” said 20-year Freeport resident Todd Coffin. “I will gladly give up a large pizza a year just to fund it.”

Absentee ballots will be available at the three town halls beginning Friday.

lconnell@timesrecord.com

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