The Parks & Recreation Commission on Tuesday night reviewed its Community Preservation projects and discussed the potential impacts of the proposed Center School reuse plan on funding future projects.

“I personally think it really hamstrings us for future things that we do and have done a pretty good job of,” said chair Dan Terry.

Terry began the discussion by reviewing a list of ongoing projects funded by the Community Preservation Committee and the progress on each. The list includes projects such as a boat dock at Sandy Beach, a shade structure at the Fruit Street dog park and netting at various athletic fields. 

Many of these projects are completed or close to completion. None have gone over budget, according to the list.

“There’s great progress being made on every one of these,” said Terry. He noted that certain items, such as bathrooms at EMC Park and irrigation studies for Pyne Field, have not progressed.

“There are a few that are on hold because we need to wait for different things,” Terry explained.

Despite progress on nine projects — with two additional ones recently approved at Town Meeting last week — Parks & Rec has received criticism over its pace and time to project completion. 

During a CPC meeting in March, chair Ken Weismantel criticized the Parks & Rec Department for not moving faster on the Pyne Field redesign project. CPC approved $1 million for the redesign in December 2022, and Phase 2 of the five-phase project was initiated back in April.

Because of the delay, inflation has caused labor and materials costs to rise, Lewitus explained to the CPC during that meeting. Even though the redesign is in its second phase, it still will take 12-18 months to complete.

“I pushed back on that criticism because I feel like there’s been … a lot of nuances [that] have popped up associated with this project,” Terry explained to the commission on Tuesday. 

The commission has been working to solve Pyne Field’s parking issues since late last year. The project has been through multiple iterations of its parking design, which received input from abutters and additional parking proposals from CPC members before getting final approval in April.

Additionally, the funding for the redesign preceded Parks & Rec Director Jon Lewitus’ hiring. Lewitus took over the position almost two years ago when the previous director, Jay Guelfi, retired. Terry had argued during that CPC meeting that Pyne Field was not an immediate priority for Lewitus in his first nine months on the job.

Concerns raised about Center School project

Shifting the conversation toward Center School, Terry explained he was interested in hearing the commission’s thoughts on the reuse project.

“I wanted to know the thoughts of this group about whether that’s a worthwhile use of the vast majority of CPC funds that would go in the direction of [Parks & Rec] projects,” said Terry.

An article approved by Town Meeting last week appropriates $600,000 in CPC funds to fund construction bid documents and engineering plans for a proposed reuse plan for Center School. The plan involves demolishing two additions in the rear of the building and renovating and retaining the original 1928 structure.

The Hopkinton Center for the Arts intends to bid on a request for proposal to lease space in the building, and would raise $4 million of the total $10 million anticipated construction cost. When renovated, Center School also would provide space for both the Parks & Rec Department and Hopkinton Youth & Family Services.

“We would essentially get a floor, large multi-purpose rooms and office spaces,” Lewitus told the commission.

Terry expressed concerns over the remaining $6 million needed to fund the project.

“I know that CPC has never voted on committing that large a portion of what is available for CPC funds towards this one project,” he noted.

Added Terry: “I have concerns that if all that money is pushed toward Center School, it’s going to prevent us from doing upcoming projects … that benefit the entire town.”

Commission members agreed with Terry’s assessment.

“If the CPC budget is taken up year over year to build up this facility, how do we continue to make progress … on things that need to be done around town?” said vice chair Amy O’Donnell.

Member Kyle Smith surmised the project effectively could eliminate CPC funding for six years.

Because members were in agreement with Terry’s concerns, he noted he would bring the issue to the CPC at a future meeting.

“I’m good with having that conversation with CPC that we don’t support blowing all the money on Center School,” he said.

Following that discussion, commission members identified projects they could propose for the next CPC funding cycle. These included turfing one of the high school fields and updates to Reed Park. Smith also floated an idea for a gym that would host a number of different courts and public recreation facilities.