On Sept. 27, the town will hold a Special Town Meeting. One article asks voters to approve the purchase of land on Old Mill Road for another playing field.
We should remember: we already voted “no” on this proposal at the May Town Meeting. Bringing it back so soon does not respect the will of the voters.
This proposal is not in Harvard’s best interest:
- Developing the 6-acre parcel could exceed $2 million, based on Brookline’s 2020 needs assessment and industry estimates from the Sports Turf Managers Association, with $25,000 or more in annual maintenance. Over the next decade, taxpayers could pay $2.5–$3 million.
- I am not aware of any official plan to fund construction of a field on this land. If one exists, it has not been presented publicly. Without a clear funding source, construction would likely require either expanding the town’s already overburdened budget or requesting a debt exclusion, both of which would raise taxes further.
- This purchase would affect our neighborhood without clear long-term benefits.
We understand soccer fields are heavily used, but buying more is not the only solution. Harvard could manage existing fields more efficiently through scheduling, rotation, and maintenance.
The town could also promote underused recreational activities, giving all residents fair access while avoiding the high cost of a new field.
It is also unfair to bring the same article back to a Special Town Meeting, which usually has fewer voters than the Annual Town Meeting. A broader group of residents already rejected this proposal in May. Revisiting it now risks overturning that decision with a much smaller turnout.
Town Meeting gives us the power to decide. If you agree this is not the right step for Harvard, please attend the Special Town Meeting on Sept. 27 and vote “no” again on the field article. Even a handful of votes can decide the outcome. Please make your voice heard.
Haofang Yu
Old Mill Road
