New Field Options for Larchmont?

Artificial Turf at Lorenzen & More at Flint Park are Possibilities

by Judy Silberstein

(July 20, 2006) Recreation – in particular sports fields - dominated the discussion at the Larchmont Village Board’s meeting on Monday, July 17.

There was both good news and bad news on the status of local ball fields, which are in high demand and short supply. Flint Park’s A & B fields (on the left as you enter the park) are in much better shape than anticipated and will only be out of service for a short time, reported Mayor Liz Feld. She credited the efforts of Larchmont’s Department of Public Works with help from the school district’s aerator. Also helpful was the plentiful supply of water from sprinklers installed some years ago and from recent rains.

On the downside, heavy rain and heavy usage combined to create potholes and erosion at Lorenzen's soccer field. The field was unusable during part of the spring soccer season and was closed at the end of June to allow the application of 100 yards of topsoil followed by reseeding. As is typical, the soccer league paid for materials and the DPW supplied the labor. With some luck, that field should reopen by the end of August, according to DPW Manager Joe Bedard, contacted later for comment. “Hope the heat doesn’t kill it,” he said.

Can More Be Done?

“Turf Lorenzen soccer field as soon as possible,” is one idea “that keeps coming back to me,” said Mayor Feld. She and Trustee Jim Millstein have conducted preliminary research into the concept. Unlike natural grass, artificial turf can be used – without harm to players or playing surface – within a short time after it rains or snows. Further, installation requires a few months, rather than a year or two for establishing grass. A turf field could be in use as early as September of 2007, the mayor said.

The major downside is cost. A natural grass renovation with new drainage and regrading would run around $250K. Artificial turf could be as low as $400 - 500K, but dealing with Lorenzen's marshy conditions could send the bill as high as $900K to $1M.

Where would Larchmont find the money? Recent conversations with local sports supporters suggest the possibility of private fundraising for as much as half the cost. Mayor Feld also said there was potential for funding through Westchester County’s “Legacy Program,” which since 2001 has set aside millions specifically for helping communities develop or enhance ball fields. (See: Legacy Program.) Trustee Millstein indicated in a later conversation that encouragement for this approach has come from the chair of Westchester County’s Planning Board, Cheryl Lewy, a former mayor of Larchmont, and from Westchester County Legislator Judy Myers. The catch, noted Mayor Feld, is that Legacy fields must be shared, to some extent, with players from outside the municipality.

“Burden sharing” - i.e., asking for contributions from outside of Larchmont - is another concept discussed by the trustees. Mr. Millstein noted there are close to 6000 Larchmont and Mamaroneck children enrolled in field sports, but only around 1700 are residents of Larchmont Village. School teams account for approximately 40% of Larchmont's field usage, and though the school district pays annual field fees to Mamaroneck Village and Town, “we’re giving it away,” said Mr. Millstein.

Mayor Feld noted dialogue with the schools was “more open than it has been historically” and "everyone agrees we should pool our resources."

“Lorenzen seems to be the most immediate solution,” to the acute need for fields, she said. But Trustee Wiener said he was “deathly afraid of doing two fields at one time” and would "prefer to have Flint [Park expansion] over before we close Lorenzen."

“That would take forever,” said the mayor, joking, "I'm an impatient woman."

And What About the Flint Park Expansion Project?

Though not part of the board discussion, after the meeting Mayor Feld said March 2007 is still the anticipated start of the project to renovate the ball fields and develop an environmental area at the back of Flint Park. (See: Flint Park Delay Clarified.) The Village Board and staff are continuing to slog through the paperwork and meetings required to complete bid documents that comply with procedures set forth by the various state and federal granting agencies. Trustee McAndrews reported she had completed the training needed to administer the grants, and the mayor said she will be meeting on August 15 with the agencies.

But the board is also reappraising the project “to be sure we’re making the highest and best use of the entire park,” said Mayor Feld. Ron Tetelman, Larchmont’s park planning consultant with the firm of Eberlin and Eberlin, “is going back to the drawing board and taking another look at ways to reorganize the space in Flint Park,” said Trustee Millstein.

“The Flint Park project will start in March – one way or the other – either exactly as previously planned, with some modifications, or perhaps even with major changes,” said Trustee Millstein.

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