The Community Preservation Committee at its meeting Thursday night rebuked the Parks & Recreation Department for not moving more swiftly on its current projects as it closed the public hearing on fiscal year 2026 requests.

The sole FY 26 request discussed was made by the Parks & Recreation Department. Early in the process, it had proposed a request for $412,500 for construction of a road to access parking at Pyne Field. This request was not voted on in December because an access road could be shared with the adjacent sawmill. The Parks & Recreation Commission has been discussing two sites for the parking lot placement and design for Pyne Field in recent meetings.

Parks & Recreation Commission chair Dan Terry explained that the commission recently received the designs but has not received budgetary estimates from the design contractor, Gale Associates. Because no estimates were available, the committee voted unanimously not to recommend funding for additional parking improvements at Pyne Field.

The only other reference to an FY 26 Town Meeting article was in regard to the proposed adaptive playground. The committee voted unanimously to remove its article recommending $300,000 in CPC funding from the warrant if the School Committee’s article requesting funding for the balance of the project is defeated. The adaptive playground is estimated to cost $1.2 million and would be located at Marathon School.

Said CPC chair Ken Weismantel: “We don’t want to add salt to the wound.”

He added that the FY 26 window for the hearing was longer than previous years.

Pyne Field projects spark tension

In the quarterly update, Parks & Rec Director Jon Lewitus reviewed the status of the seven projects that previously received CPC funding. The ones that drew criticism were related to the Pyne Field redesign. Two closely linked major projects Lewitus described were the irrigation project and the cricket pitch and ball field.

Lewitus said the Gale Associates engineering and design proposal includes $37,500 for irrigation studies. Weismantel reminded him that $25,000 had been allocated for the irrigation project, saying that work couldn’t be started if the project could not be fully funded.

The biggest outstanding project is the construction of the cricket pitch and ball field at Pyne Field. Lewitus explained that the first phase of a five-phase project is nearly complete.

The choice of the parking lot location will be discussed at the next Parks & Rec Commission meeting on April 8. Once this is done, the second phase of engineering and design can begin. At that time, firmer numbers for the project cost can be established.

While $1 million was approved in December 2022 for the redesign of Pyne Field, Lewitus said colleagues told him that figure is not realistic now. Inflation has caused labor and materials costs to rise.

“This is a massive project,” he said, noting that it will take 12-18 months to complete.

“I guess I’m a little disappointed,” said Weismantel “You didn’t put any priority on getting the project done. I’m saying this as a project manager.”

Terry defended Lewitus, noting that he has been the director for 18 months. Before that, an interim director took over when Jay Guelfi, the previous director, retired. There also have been several other projects Lewitus has been working on, in addition to managing programs and hiring staff.

“This is something that was definitely put on hold,” said Terry. “It was certainly not Jon’s priority in the first nine months that he was here. But it has bubbled up. We need to settle on something before we come up with a viable estimate.”

The $1 million request, Weismantel said, was for the cricket pitch, the ball field and the parking area.

He added: “If you can’t deliver, you’re waiting a year.”

Said Terry: “I think this criticism on a project of this magnitude is unfair.”

Weismantel said he wanted to see Parks & Rec projects “caught up” before a new request comes in. Lewitus explained that five of the projects out of seven are nearly compete. The FY 26 requests for water bottle refill stations and a feasibility study for a splash pad can be done soon after the funding is received.

Terry emphasized that the procedure is to request money for a feasibility study one year and then come back the next year to request the project funding. If only one project were pursued at a time, it would not meet residential demand.

Previously funded Parks & Rec requests recapped

Out of the remaining projects, Lewitus said there was no update on the bathroom reconstruction project at EMC Park because completion of the skate park there took precedence. He described it as “an order of operations thing.”

“This project is four years old at this point,” said Weismantel. “Do you still want to do it? That’s the question.”

“There’s definitely still demand for it,” said Terry, adding that other projects at that location were prioritized and either done or near completion.

On a related note, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the skate park this Saturday at 11:30 a.m. It officially opened on Jan. 1.

Poles and netting will be installed at EMC Park during the week of April 21, Lewitus added, saying the project came in under budget.

Lewitus also met with Josh Grossetti, the town’s information technology director, on March 26 about installing security cameras at Sandy Beach. Grossetti confirmed that the necessary wiring from Verizon is in place and that the equipment was ordered. Lewitus said he expects the cameras to be installed by the end of April. Once this project is completed, cameras also will be installed at the Fruit Street fields.

Weismantel suggested that Parks & Rec install cameras at EMC Park. Because of the additional projects slated for EMC, Terry said funding for the cameras wasn’t requested yet. He acknowledged Weismantel’s suggestion, noting the investment in the park.

Terry also said requests for security camera funding for any project should follow completion of work on an area to determine their location.

Said Weismantel: “These days, I think not having cameras is not the right thing.”

Another ongoing project is the installation of the boat dock at Sandy Beach. While everything is set, installation can’t occur until the lake level rises after the winter thaw. Lewitus said he hoped it would be done within a week of the water level being adequate.

Installation for the shade structure at the dog park has begun. Lewitus noted that the concrete recently was poured, and the installation process will take place next week under budget.