BATH

It’s an issue that has taken on political overtones in the city.

Fields 4 Our Future and the Bath Parks and Recreation Department have raised most of the nearly $600,000 it would take to replace the often-soggy, torn-up sod at city-owned McMann Field with artificial turf. Hoped-for grant funds could put the fundraising effort over the top prior to the end of the year.

On the other side of the equation, there is the fact that by a nearly 2-to-1 margin residents overrode the City Council’s decision to fund the Mc- Mann Field project. The actual vote in June 2010 to authorize a bond of up to $300,000 was 861 to 1,522. The City Council had approved the bond, but a repeal petition forced the public vote.

At its last meeting on Oct. 3, the City Council appeared divided on the project. The council did authorize application for a grant of up to $200,000 from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

And there’s the question of what happens in 10-to-15 years, which is the life expectancy of the artificial turf. Where would the money for a new surface come from?

McMann Field gets a whole lot of use. The field, composed largely of clay, is home to Morse High School and middle school football games. High school boys and girls soccer matches also are played on McMann Field in the autumn months, and lacrosse is played there in the spring.

Karyn Garofolo, assistant director of Bath Parks and Recreaton, said Friday that the city could generate revenue from the expanded use of McMann Field, which would result from the installation of turf.

“We have top priority to fundraise or generate revenues off this field, which we can’t do currently,” Garofolo said. “It can’t get any more use from what it currently has, both in terms of safety, and playability.”

The idea would be to lease the field to clubs, or other groups in need of playing space.

“The number of hours could be multiplied 10-fold with a synthetic turf field,” Garofolo said. “The revenues could help with the eventual replacement.”

As Garofolo pointed out, McMann Field, because of its clay base, cannot tolerate much moisture. Two weekends ago, Morse was forced to play its home football game in Brunswick. The soccer teams have encountered the same problem.

“In each of the last three weeks,” Garofolo said, “we’ve had to close the field for safety reasons. It looked like somebody took a roto-tiller to the field and then it rained on top.”

Fields 4 Our Future has raised more than $400,000 through fundraisers, such as the “Walk For Turf” event on Oct. 14. In addition to the Land and Water Conservation grant, the recreation department also has applied for a grant of up to $200,000 from the U.S. Soccer Foundation.

Garofolo and City Manager Bill Giroux both said that the issue has become “politically charged,” as Giroux put it. There are seven candidates on the Nov. 6 ballot for four open City Council seats.

The council approved the application for the Land and Water fund grant. As Giroux explained it, the U.S. Soccer Foundation money could become available as soon as $200,000 is spent on the project. If that grant money is not forthcoming, further fundraising would be needed.

The recreation department is asking for no upfront money from the city, Giroux said.

Following the original City Council vote to take out a bond for the McMann Field project, Councilor Kyle Rogers and others initiated the petition drive. Councilor Ruthe Pagurko, who passed away last month, and Jackie Dwinal were among them.

“I walked the streets of Bath,” Dwinal said. “We went out, got many more signatures than was needed, and it went down 2-to-1.”

Dwinal expressed doubt that Fields 4 Our Future and the recreation department can raise the $35,000 annually it would take to replace the field when the turf wears out.