City of Newton, MA
Home MenuAthletic Fields Improvements
Locations:
1) Russ Halloran Sports & Recreation
Complex @Albemarle
256 Albemarle Road, Newtonville
2) McGrath Park
1600 Washington Street, West Newton
3) Burr School Fields
171 Pine Street, Auburndale
2023 Construction Goals:
Building on the design work and community engagement completed with the FY22 funding, this phase will complete final design work and construction on much needed improvements to the Albemarle, McGrath, and Burr School Fields including the construction of new multiuse and multipurpose fields, installation of community requested improvements, improving accessibility in the parks, and establishing standardized park design details for better maintenance and operations in the future.
2023 Funding Request:
$9,099,787 Newton CPA Funds (Recommended)
$473,340 City Staff Time to oversee and manage multi-year plan
$200,000 Murphy Field Sports Lighting at Albemarle
$92,000 McGrath Park Accessible Path (CDBG Funding)
$2,148,338.25 Albemarle Synthetic Turf Multipurpose Fields
$60,000 McGrath Lacrosse Practice Wall
$1,475,777 Sports Lighting at NSHS and NNHS fields
$200,000 Forte Park Lighting Upgrades (Developer Mitigation Funds
$21,875 Athletic Lighting Structural Assessment (Forte Park, Albemarle, and Newton South Tennis Court)
$13,771,117.25 Total Project Funding
Funding Process
February 17, 2023 - Pre-Proposal application submitted for discussion at the March 14 CPC meeting.
March 14, 2023 - Applicant gave a presentation of the proposed new project plan and pool designs after which the CPC unanimously voted to invite the applicant to submit a full application for review at a future meeting.
March 14, 2023 - Letters received by this date expressing concerns with the installation of artificial turf at Albemarle Park
March 20, 2023 - Full Proposal received for design and construction funding at Albemarle Park, McGrath Park, and the Burr School Fields. Included with the proposal are the following attachments:
- Spreadsheet on proposed uses of CPA funding in Athletic Fields Project
- Proposed design and lighting locations at Albemarle Park
- Musco Sports Lighting Albemarle Phase I
- Musco Sports Lighting Albemarle Phase II
- Musco Sports Light Fixtures Brochure
March 30, 2023 - Letter from Newton Little League confirming donations for lighting at Murphy Field
April 10, 2023 - Four additional letters expressing concern about the installation of artificial turf at Albemarle Park. The Committee also received Letters of Support for the project from the Friends of Albemarle and Newton Girls Soccer.
April 11, 2023 - Following the Project Presentation during the public hearing, the CPC unanimously voted to recommend full funding of the project using $5,000,000 in 15 year bonds and $4,099,727 in available funds.
April 24, 2023 - CPC Recommendation for full funding was sent to City Council for their review and approval.
June 20, 2023 - City Council Order approves full funding of the project, including authorization for bonding of $5 million in project costs beginning in FY24.
FY22 Design Goals:
The Athletic Fields Capital Improvements Plan FY22-25 Design Funding allowed the City to hire design consultants to complete the work necessary, including site analysis, feasibility studies, design development plans, landscape plans, construction documents, cost estimates, and construction observation, to take the field improvement projects at the Russ Halloran Sports & Recreation Complex, McGrath Park, Burr School Fields, Brown/Oak Hill Middle School Fields, Forte Park, and Upper Falls Playground (Braceland Park) from the design development phase through project completion.
FY22 Funding:
$420,000 Newton CPA Funds
$236,670 City Staff Time to oversee and manage multi-year plan
$17,000 Forte Park Artificial Turf Feasibility (Athletic League Funding)
$92,000 McGrath Park Accessible Path (CDBG Funding)
$200,000 Forte Park Lighting Upgrades (Developer Mitigation Funds
$21,875 Athletic Lighting Structural Assessment (Forte Park, Albemarle, and Newton South Tennis Court)
$987,545 Total Project Funding
Contacts:
Luis Perez Demorizi, Open Space Coordinator
Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department
246 Dudley Road
Newton, MA 02459
Nicole Banks, Commissioner
Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department
246 Dudley Road
Newton, MA 02459
Funding Process:
June 25, 2021 - Pre-Proposal submitted for discussion with CPC at their July 13, 2021 regular meeting. Also submitted is a project overview and presentation previously made to the Parks and Recreation Committee and Athletic Fields Subcommittee.
July 9, 2021 - Newton Athletic Field Foundation (NAFF) submits letter of support, including petition and petition comments
July 13, 2021 - Pre-Proposal presentation made to CPC. CPC invites applicant to submit a full proposal for a public hearing at their next meeting on August 10, 2021.
July 23,2021 - Full Proposal submitted for public hearing review on August 10, 2021. Submitted materials also include the cover letter from Commissioner Banks and the Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan for FY22- FY26
August 10, 2021 - Letters of Support received for CPC Public Hearing on proposal.
August 10, 2021 - Project Presentation made during the Public Hearing on the proposed project. CPC unanimously votes to recommend full funding of the project to the City Council.
August 19, 2021 - CPA Funding Recommendation sent to the City Council for full funding of the project as proposed.
August 23, 2021 - Boston Globe Article on Athletic Fields Improvement Project
October 4, 2021 - City Council Order approves full funding of the project as submitted.