Ken Cleveland
HOLDEN — Dawson area recreation facilities will be growing, adding synthetic turf fields and other features.
The fields to be built off Industrial Drive will be added to the field to the rear of Dawson, which could also be a turf field, Town Manger Peter Lukes said at a recent meeting of the Select Board.
He told selectmen he has been meeting with presidents of Holden sports leagues to discuss turf field plans, which will open added athletic opportunities.
Design and engineering planning was put out to bid, and Weston and Sampson, already familiar with the area from previous work, was the low bidder.
Before shovels come out for any ceremonial groundbreaking, however, the project has some hurdles to clear.
The Board of Selectmen has set a tentative Oct. 17 special town meeting.
“We will present a funding formula for a solid cost estimate,” which is expected from Weston and Sampson in the next three to four weeks, Lukes said.
He estimated the project would use about $2 million of federal America Rescue Plan Act funds.
The remainder of the $5 million project would be financed or combine borrowing and use of stabilization money, he said.
Once the final plan is done, it could be phased in, starting with the synthetic field.
The plans call for total renovation of the Dawson playground, Lukes said.
“That will allow us to have one very large recreational center in at that part of town” with ample parking between Industrial Drive and Dawson areas.
The project required some land swaps.
“We managed to get a land swap with the DCR for the front of the Dawson area,” Lukes told the board.
The town did not own the area where tennis courts and woods were located. He said the idea of a land swap had been kicked around for decades. It was accomplished earlier this year, making it through the state Legislature with the help of State Rep. Kim Ferguson and State Sen. Anne Gobi.
Final legal work still has to be completed with state agencies.
Lukes said the town is trying to finish renovations to the basketball courts using donations.
“We need to shore up the surrounding areas” as erosion has affected the area.
“Before we resurface the courts and re-fence the courts, we need to do something with the surrounding land.”
He said the goal would be to have the work done by the end of fall.
The woodland area work would likely occur later, once the town fully owns the property.
“If we are able to do a special town meeting, we would start construction in early spring,” with synthetic fields and then baseball fields and renovation of the soccer field and playground.
“It’s taken some time,” Lukes said, noting COVID delays, not owning the land and needing design and engineering work to be completed.
“Once it really kicks into gear, it will go from zero to 60 quickly,” resulting in a whole change in the recreational facilities, he noted.
New rec director
With the departure of Recreation Director Nichole Hallett, Lukes said assistant director Angela Green had been appointed acting director.
Having worked for the department for the past eight years, Green had become assistant director the last two years, training to fill the role.
He said Green will likely be in the acting role for six to 12 months.
“She’s doing great already.” Lukes said the town had been working on extending recreation programs.
He said the before and after care program will be different in the future, with the department increasing offerings slowly but surely.
“It’s a trial and error process,” he said, adding “we intend to add more programming,” building on what works.
