Well maintained fields are more than patches of grass. They are vital public assets which promote physical health, mental well-being, and community connection for residents of all ages.
I enthusiastically support the proposed purchase of the land on Old Mill Road for use as a multipurpose rectangular field. This land has sufficient space for many sports played in Harvard—lacrosse, field hockey, ultimate frisbee, or soccer—supporting youth, high school, and adult field dimensions.
The town has been working on a solution for many years. The 2016 Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) identified and set forth the need to maintain, expand, and improve playing fields, including developing more fields to allow rotation and prevent overuse. Nevertheless the 2016 OSRP identified no existing lands as future playing fields. At ATM 2022, voters approved funds for an Athletic Study Field and Design (Article 18-13). The study by Gale Associates (Sept 2023) determined “eight of the nine game venues are currently overused [and] it is reasonable to conclude that additional field space is warranted.” Overuse can be remedied by adding new space to allow resting, renovation, and repair of existing fields.
In the past 10 years the opportunity to add open space for recreation purposes has been limited, but the town now has an opportunity and is prepared to do so. The purchase of the property will use monies from the Capital Stabilization Fund to buy the land and will not increase taxes. The development of the Old Mill Road property could possibly be done with monies raised through the Community Preservation Act. The use of these funds would not increase taxes.
I ask voters to show up to Town Meeting and support the purchase of the Old Mill Road property on Sept. 27. Please support Park and Rec, CPIC. and the Select Board in their efforts to bring new recreational space to Harvard.
James O’Leary
President, Harvard Athletic Association and Harvard Youth Baseball & Softball Association
