Concord Carlisle at Play, Inc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Phase 1 construction will be finished and Phase 2 planning will start in earnest during the fall of 2014. We hope to answer any and all questions about the project, and the answers below are in response to questions that have been raised most recently. Please email us if you have a question that is not answered on this site.
Are you turfing Memorial field and the lower grass fields?
Is artificial turf a safe playing surface for young athletes?
Will we keep the "Go Patriots" slogan on the roof of the new concessions building?
Will there be permanent outfield fencing for softball and baseball?
Will the fields be more accessible than in the past?
Will the new tennis courts be lit?
How much more playing area will be gained by the school?
Will ongoing maintenance become a burden on tax payers?
Will the new facility have restrooms?
Where are the basketball courts?
Can we put a track around the new grass "upper" field?
Can you put a shallow pond in front of the Beede Center for skating?
Who contributed to the schematic design?
How will all this be paid for?
Can we help support the project? Are donations tax deductible?
Are you turfing Memorial field and the lower grass fields?
Definitely not. The "lower grass" fields that house the baseball and softball fields will remain grass - there are no plans to use synthetic turf outside of Memorial field.
Is artificial turf a safe playing surface for young athletes?
Many of us saw an NBC news story that raised questions about the safety of artificial turf fields. While the report broadcast on TV was fairly one-sided, the more expansive written article is more balanced, specifically stating no evidence has been found linking artificial fields with cancer. You can read it here. The Synthetic Turf Council responded to the study and you can read that here, and the American Sports Builders Association issued a response here.
Years ago, the crumb rubber in turf fields did contain certain metals - e.g., lead - that were related to health concerns. The industry responded and has moved toward a standard crumb rubber infill that is free of lead and other elements around which there were concerns (I recall arsenic and zinc). The Doug White fields are lead-free and the spec for our Phase 2 field will require that it be free of lead and several other elements. As required by Concord Zoning Bylaw, the Board of Health reviewed the project as it relates to groundwater protection, and provided recommendations for groundwater monitoring to the Board of Appeals which were incorporated into their approval of the project. Our board would not propose the conversion from grass to artificial turf in the football stadium unless we were convinced that it is safe for our children, and we are.
Will we keep the "Go Patriots" slogan on the roof of the new concessions building?
Yes! The architect has been instructed to ensure that the roof faces the field and can accommodate the wording.
Is the Lions Den coming back?
Yes! The Lions Club, longtime supporters of CC sports, will continue to operate concessions during home football games starting next season. In the meantime, CC Friends of Football is arranging for a food truck to provide concessions at football games. Going forward, when the new building is complete, we are hoping to enlist enterprising students or other local groups to provide concessions during other sports events played on the new turf and lower grass fields.
Will there be permanent outfield fencing for softball and baseball?
There will be no permanent outfield fencing in the lower grass fields. There will be backstops and batting cages on the edges of the fields, and in the spring varsity baseball and softball will put up temporary fences as they have always done, but during the rest of the year the interior will remain fence-free to maintain maximum flexibility for use by football, soccer, field hockey, ultimate, and other recreational uses.
Will the fields be more accessible than in the past?
A big YES to this question. The entire facility - including the most distant softball diamond - will be wheelchair accessible and comply with ADA standards. We want to ensure that legions of grandparents are able to watch their grandchildren compete with ease and comfort.
Will the new tennis courts be lit?
The tennis courts will not be lit at this time because the CC tennis teams do not play at night and the lighting is expensive. For flexibility, we are installing the electrical infrastructure to do that in the future if deemed desirable. We plan to replace the 25+ year old lights at the football stadium in Phase 2 with state-of-the-art, energy efficient lighting.
How much more playing area will be gained by the school?
There will be no net gain of dedicated field area. However, better field layout and management and synthetic turf at the stadium to allow multiple sports for an unlimited time frame will provide more sport hours.
Will ongoing maintenance become a burden on tax payers?
No. The school district currently pays about $75,000 to maintain this portion of the athletic campus, and we believe (based on conversations with the district, the town, and other schools in our area) that that sum will be sufficient to maintain the renovated facilities. Funds saved on the artificial turf area (no cutting, no irrigation) can be redirected to do a better job with the natural grass areas.
Will the new facility have restrooms?
We think it is a great idea to locate bathrooms closer to the fields of play (which would benefit both players and fans). We plan to replace the existing structures in the field areas (storage shed and concessions stand) with a new maintenance/storage facility and a new concession and bathroom building. We are looking into the possibility of sustainable bathrooms that we have all seen in places like Walden Pond.
Where are the basketball courts?
We considered putting in 1 or 2 outdoor courts, but the real estate was limited and neither the basketball program nor the public at larged indicated that this should be a priority. We heard loud and clear that indoor court space is a priority (our youth programs rely on Fenn and Middlesex for court time), but we are not in a position to help on that front.
Can we put a track around the new grass "upper" field?
No, we can't. We don't have enough space. A track requires 50-60% more length than a soccer or lacrosse field (remember the "D zones" at either end). However, it was recently suggested that we plan for a Phase 4 that would include a new track over where the existing student parking lot is located. It's a good idea, but way too early to consider.
Can you put a shallow pond in front of the Beede Center for skating?
That's a great idea but not one we can act on. That area is part of the School Building Project and will be engineered to handle storm drainage for the new school. It will be lush and green but probably cannot be converted into a pond.
Who contributed to the schematic design?
We met with a variety of town boards, youth sports organizations, school adminstrators and coaches, and held multiple community information and site walk sessions (see the list on the WELCOME page). We want this project to be the best it can possibly be and will continue to accept all comments, questions and suggestions. Comments should be emailed to feedback@ccatplay.org or you may reach out to any member of the board directly. We incorporated many of the good suggestions (bike racks, hydration stations, a bang board, field orientation, and much more) into the designs.
Is this a town project?
Absolutely - this is a public/private partnership between our community and CC at Play. We have had great support from the citizens of Concord (who voted $433,000 in CPA funding for Phase 1), the CC regional school district, Concord town boards, and all of the youth sports organizations (including CCYLacrosse, CCYBaseball, CCYSoftball, and CCYSoccer) who stand to benefit from this ambitious renovation.
How will all this be paid for?
We expect to pay for the project with a combination of private and public funds. On the private side, we have received pledges in excess of $2 million (as of 9/1/14) from major donors during the quiet period of our fundraising campaign. On the public side, the Concord Community Preservation Committee recommended and Town Meeting approved $433,000 in CPA funding toward Phase 1. We have applied for $670,000 for Phase 2 funding from Concord and will be applying for $350-400,000 from Carlisle later this year.
Who is CC at Play?
CC at Play, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization formed by local citizens who came together in hopes of creating a better field complex at CCHS. We are parents, sports people and concerned citizens. We were formed to champion this project, but we hope to be around for years to come to pursue other recreation projects in our community.
Can we help support the project? Are donations tax deductible?
We hope so! We were granted 501(c)3 status by the IRS which means that donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
FAQs
