The recent debate about the construction of new playing fields on conservation land and a pump track in Harvard Park has caused me to reflect on our town. When I moved here some 25 years ago, I was impressed with the town’s commitment to education, land conservation, and community inclusiveness. While our town has retained a commitment to education, the recent discussion of eliminating accessible conservation land on Old Mill Road to provide athletic fields worries me.
I understand the increased need. However, to surrender this conservation land for athletic fields (even if it is swapped with conservation land elsewhere) is misguided. While largely eliminated from consideration, an artificial turf field to replace the field at McCurdy Track, with the installation of lighting, would allow this field to be used more than twice as much as it is today. That would go a long way to improving the field-use problem.
Using artificial turf is analogous to building a parking garage instead of paving over acres to achieve an equivalent parking area. It is more expensive to build a garage but if you put a premium on open space, it better achieves your goals. Likewise, getting more out of a field instead of building a new field seems more in keeping with Harvard’s values.
As for the pump track, I don’t understand how disrupting a wooded area with itinerant streams used by many for quiet walks to serve a small group of our community makes sense. Investing substantial funds and disrupting a section of town not brimming with conservation land for a small group of people does not seem to align with the historical philosophy of the town.
I urge the Conservation Commission, Open Space Committee, Park and Recreation Commission, School Committee, and Select Board to please keep in mind our historical values and to make a very thoughtful decision on how to meet our recreation requirements.
Michael Kilian
Candleberry Lane
