On March 25, as the spring sports season began, Newton’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Department hosted a webinar detailing its plans to continue making improvements to and transforming some of the City’s athletics fields.
Newton’s 118 acres of fields “are for the health and well-being of children and other park users,” said Luis Perez Demorizi, Director of Parks + Open Space, during the Zoom meeting to update the public on upcoming changes to Albemarle, McGrath Park, and Burr Elementary School fields.
Representatives from Newton North High School’s Athletics Department; children’s soccer, lacrosse and ultimate (frisbee) organizations; and the Friends of Albemarle praised the City for moving forward with plans to install and improve turf and grass fields.
“We have heard folks loud and clear about the need,” said Demorizi.
While the plans were lauded by some, abutters and others were concerned about potential environmental dangers, especially from chemicals in the turf and potential flooding.
When asked why artificial turf was chosen for some locations rather than natural grass fields, Ahron Lerman, Assistant Director of Parks + Open Space, said it was because, “It’s really expensive and difficult to properly care for grass fields that get as much use as some of Newton’s do — and playing time is often reduced due to the weather. Turf doesn’t need mowing or fertilizer and can be played on nearly all year.”
Mike Jackson, Newton North’s Athletics Director, said having an additional turf field for students was essential for success.
“We are at a real disadvantage in our athletic program with having one turf field,” he said, thanking Parks staff for their efforts.
“The playing season will be expanding as turf fields are open year-round (unless covered under snow),” said Demorizi.
Upgrades to lighting system will expand the range of usable hours on fields, especially in the fall and early spring, he added.
The participants who were worried about potential environmental dangers pressed Parks staff about their concerns.
One attendee asked, “To what extent is the Parks Department monitoring PFAS [per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances] or microplastics from the current turf field, and how is that going to be monitored for the new turf?”
Demorizi said, “We do not have concerns based on the products we’ve selected.”
Lerman added that “The Parks Department doesn’t currently test fields for PFAS or microplastics. The new turf field’s testing has indicated that it doesn’t leach these materials into the watershed under conditions normally found on this planet.”
Demorizi also said that Newton is monitoring what happens to the materials at the end of the turf’s “life.” He said the City is working with a recycling facility in Pennsylvania where the infill is cleaned and reused, and the carpet is broken down and recycled.
Another environmental concern centered on flooding.
One attendee asked, “To what extent has the committee assessed the potential for turf fields to contribute to flooding in the area during times of significant rain?”
Lerman responded that “the turf field has significant stormwater storage built into it, helping with infiltration. They don’t puddle like an overused and compacted grass field can.”
Full Calendar of Changes
Demorizi focused the meeting on changes coming to Albemarle, Burr, and McGrath and when those changes would be implemented.
The City’s five-year schedule for improvements to athletic fields began in 2020 with Newton North High School’s stadium sports lighting. Since then, some highlights include:
- 2021: Athletic fields capital plan
- 2022: Community engagement on priority athletic fields (Albemarle, McGrath, Burr School and Brown-Oak Hill) and Newton South High School sports lighting construction
- 2023: Newton North sports lighting and Newton South synthetic turf construction
- 2022-2023: Design development (Albemarle phase 1, McGrath, and Burr School)
- 2024: Newton North synthetic turf construction and Burr School construction, both in summer
- 2025: McGrath construction (spring/summer) and Albemarle phase 1 construction (winter)
Showing site maps and aerial views, Demorizi detailed the latest updates for the three fields. The following are some highlights:
Albemarle Phase 1
- The changes will allow “Maximum playing availability [by] adding a turf field at Albemarle and ensuring ballfield and rectangular fields can be safely used simultaneously through elimination of overlapping playing space,” said Demorizi
- Repositioning the baseball field and improving the softball field
- Multi-use bike trail
- Pedestrian pathways
- Natural grass multi-purpose fields
- 1 basketball court
- Six dedicated pickleball courts
- New footbridge over Cheesecake Brook
Burr School Fields
- Because there is a lot of “undulation” in the play surface, it can only fit one soccer field. The city will level the area to create multipurpose fields. Demorizi said, “Currently, the field is not really usable. So, we are making the five unusable acres into usable field space.”
- The City will create a pollinator meadow and install benches, picnic tables, and a walkway.
- There will be drainage swales to help with excess water.
McGrath Fields
- Regulation-sized fields at McGrath with reduced conflict and overlays among spring sports usersThe underutilized ball diamonds will be eliminated
- The city will add site furnishing and a lacrosse practice wall.
The presentation slides shown by Demorizi will be available in the near future at www.newtonma.gov/fieldprojects.
For addition questions and input, email athleticfields@newtonma.gov.
