The Parks & Recreation Commission on Tuesday debated the merits of allowing sponsor banners at the Fruit Street athletic complex, raising concerns on balancing costs while ensuring equity on multi-use fields.

At the top of the discussion, Parks & Rec Director Jon Lewitus explained that Hopkinton Youth Soccer had reached out to him regarding opportunities the organization was pursuing for sponsorship. He relayed questions over putting sponsor banners on the fences at Fruit Street and said he was looking for more background into how the department handled such things previously.

Commission members noted that similar banners are hung at the baseball fields at EMC Park. However, unlike Fruit Street, the baseball fields are single-use. Members expressed discomfort over the idea of one sport benefiting from a similar program on a field multiple town sport leagues use.

“If soccer starts raising $10,000 a year by putting signs up around the field $100 at a time, I can’t imagine how girls lacrosse is going to feel,” said chair Dan Terry.

He also acknowledged the benefit the corporate sponsorships could have for HYS. “If they’re raising that kind of money, why wouldn’t we do it?” Terry wondered. “It’s a hard question.”

Lewitus explained that Parks & Rec likely would not benefit from the sponsorship arrangement HYS inquired about. Vice chair Kyle Smith said this was a non-starter for him. “The benefit has to be passed on to others,” he said.

“Them getting sponsors has nothing to do with us,” responded member Amy O’Donnell. “The question really is: Can those sponsors then put up a sign or a flag or whatever on our fence?”

Commissioners agreed that if sponsorships at multi-purpose facilities are allowed, then the benefits should be passed on to all users. “What we’re saying is that we’re not opposed to it, but we want to see it be more uniform for the Fruit Street fields,” O’Donnell clarified.

Smith likened his position on the matter to how universities take in money from their popular NCAA teams and divide them across their athletics programs.

Lewitus reviewed how the Parks & Rec Department handles donations, noting that they cannot be solicited and any money received has to be for a specific purpose. He mentioned opportunities for residents to form a “Friends of” group — a 501(c)(3) organization that could solicit funds directly.

Members reached consensus on the benefit of taking in money through sponsorships. 

“There is something here to bring down costs for users and taxpayers by allowing corporations to effectively support things that are going in Parks & Rec,” said Smith.

“I think we’re open to a group raising money for the benefit of keeping costs down at the Fruit Street fields,” agreed Terry.

Lewitus noted he would conduct more research into the legality of sponsorship and have more information for the commission at a later date.

Site walk planned for Blueberry Lane/EMC Park sidewalk

Commission members agreed they needed to walk the site of a proposed sidewalk and road that would connect Blueberry Lane and EMC Park before providing design feedback to the Department of Public Works.

Lewitus told the commission that the DPW was requesting its feedback on a plan to connect the Blueberry Lane development to EMC Park. This connection, he explained, was a requirement of building the development and would involve some clearing and construction. 

Driveway width, the access point of the sidewalk, a railing mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act and moving an existing emergency gate are parts of the plan Lewitus believed the commission could provide feedback on. 

He said the DPW recommended a 10-foot-wide driveway that would allow vehicles to get back behind the Hank Fredette Skate Park and the nearby catch basin for maintenance. The sidewalk would cut between two homes in Blueberry Lane and is proposed to exit near the skate park.

“I’m in favor of it as long as it doesn’t take down too many trees on one side or affect the use of the skate park,” said Terry. He added that he liked the idea of the neighborhood being more connected to the nearby schools.

“It’s fine, except you rip up more woods, and more land, and more everything to put a path there,” commented O’Donnell.

Lewitus shared that Nicole Bratsos, construction manager with the Facilities & Engineering Department, said tree clearing would be limited. Public hearings for the tree clearing are forthcoming.

After having difficulty visualizing the design plans, the commission agreed a site visit was needed. Commissioners directed Lewitus to schedule a walk-through with Bratsos, preferably during the week.