Youth Football Struggles With Taylor Field Use

By Kendra Bobowick

What will they do with Taylor Field?

The grass cannot keep up with the wear and tear, recreation department members worry, but Newtown Youth Football League representatives who play on the grass field behind Hawley School have a problem. In October, league President Sean Dunn told Parks & Recreation Commission members that the field needs more maintenance and is too crowded for the football practices and games played there.

Are there alternatives? Could he take the teams elsewhere? Put together a wish list, suggested recreation commission chairmen Ed Marks. He asked that football league officials bring it to the November meeting.

A month later the conversation continued. A list in hand, Dunn addressed the commission: “we need something done.” He noted, “We all agree Taylor is in bad shape.” Parents and participants in the youth football program are fully behind helping to resolve field use, he said.

Marks pointed to one possibility. “We talked about saving Taylor just for games and practicing elsewhere.” The ground underfoot is not the only complication, however. “There are other issues we need to tackle,” Marks explained. Lighting and additional parking are two of them. “Lighting we can look at,” he said. But parking in the building flanked closely by its neighbors at a busy section of Church Hill Road may not work into plans.

Talk turned to turf. “I don’t think [artificial turf] is a solution at Taylor,” Marks said. Although alleviating lawn maintenance at a heavily trafficked location turf does not come with lighting and parking. “We’ve got to explore the options,” he said.

What will it take to make the location suitable?

“We’re not sure,” Dunn said.

“We need a comprehensive solution,” Marks added. Another wrinkle involves the ability to raise funds through concession stand sales — a benefit from the stand at Taylor, are not necessarily available elsewhere.

Juggling ideas of turf, alternative practice sites, and concession sales, among other points, Marks said, “We have a lot to consider. We’re looking for solutions.” Answers also will take money. The recreation department will be making capital funding requests from the town, along with other departments. “We’re looking for solutions for youth football and other sports; it’s going to be expensive,” he said.

Thinking out loud, the commission chairman noted that the best location for a private municipal venture would be behind the high school on Berkshire Road. “With a combination of sources of money, maybe we could work out a shared use,” Marks speculated. “The high school area could be a solution.” He is not giving up on Taylor, he said, but grass fields have limited use. A permanent resolution will take time and money. Given the football league’s appeal, he said, “I see us needing a short-term solutions … In the meantime we’ll do our best with Taylor.”

Dunn added, “I know we’re all working hard, but we want to see something. If it’s monetary tell us and we’ll go out and get it. We’re happy to help offset costs.” Marks suggested speaking with the high school athletic director, Gregg Simon, for one. Eying the improvements they could make to the field, Marks suggested that the league practice elsewhere and save the playing surface for games only. “We need to find you practice space,” he told Dunn.

Recreation department Director Amy Mangold said this week that between her staff and town education officials, they are trying to clear up one important question. “Is the field Board of Education or town property?”

As for problems noted at past months meetings, Mangold agreed that parking and adequate lighting are among problems at Taylor, regardless of available funds. “Even if we come up with the money, we’re not sure if that is the field we want to build up.” Regarding the football league specifically, Mangold said, “there are quite a few reasons it may not be the field for them.” Also thinking short term for the moment, she said her department and the recreation commission are looking for other sites the players can practice and save the field for games. “The field will have a chance to rest. They’re on it non-stop. If they’re on it we can’t put work into fixing it.”