Groton task force wants to build new athletic fields to address shortage

Groton ― A group working to solve what it calls a shortage of athletic fields here is scheduled to present conceptual plans Thursday that call for new fields at Robert E. Fitch High School, Sutton Park and the former Claude Chester School.

The recommendations would upgrade an outdated football field at the high school and add more fields and amenities for students and the community to use, according to the task force.

The Athletic Fields Task Force will hold a public input session on the plans Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Thrive 55+ Active Living Center.

Parks and Recreation Director Mark Berry said the purpose of the presentation is to share with the public the conceptual plans that the task force and consultants believe will best meet the needs of the community after getting feedback from organizations that use the fields.

Berry said public comments will be incorporated into the next round of plans, which will provide an estimated cost for the proposal. The next steps would include seeking approval for the work.

Athletic Fields Task Force Chairman Frank Norosky said the group, under the Parks and Recreation Department, began meeting in 2020 to look into the shortages of fields in town. After talking with people in the community, the task force put together a proposal to maximize space issues and provide the most fields, Norosky said.

The proposed designs, developed by Kent + Frost Landscape Architecture of Mystic, call for two full-sized multi-use fields, a half field, amenities, and parking at the former Claude Chester School site; rebuilding the baseball and softball fields at Sutton Park; renovating Fitch High School’s football field and track with new amenities and adding a softball field and multi-use field, among other features at the high school.

There’s been no decision yet about whether some of the fields would be artificial turf or grass.

The task force had found that the high school’s facilities lag behind other towns in the area.

Norosky said the task force found that when high school teams need to leave campus for a practice or game in another part of town, it can create a problem for students who need to stay after school for academic help because they risk missing the bus.

According to a summary of the task force’s findings on the town’s website, the group also found that the high school football complex has “significant issues” that need to be remedied such as access to the bleachers and a lack of restrooms while there is a lack of facilities for girls’ teams.

Proposed improvements to Sutton Park also will help high school students, who can walk from campus to the adjacent park.

He said overall the plans would provide more opportunities for students to use fields on campus or within walking distance and also more opportunities for residents.

In order to bring the plans to fruition, Berry said a final plan would have to be presented to the Town Council, which would consider funding options and the scope of work. The community then would decide if the project moves forward.

k.drelich@theday.com