Fields townwide

[Tom]

Comment on town fields and the upcoming master plan.

[Unregistered]

Yeah, lets stick it in South Walpole.

Between the problems at the Preserve and soon to be problems with Gillette Stadium and Kraft's Man World with Cinama they will not notice!

[Unregistered]

In response to #2,

Sarcasm aside, the new artificial field will allow for more playing time because the artificial turf doesn't need to rest, thereby relieving some of the burden on the other fields in town.

[Unregistered]

It may seem on the surface that Adams Farm could be a site for fields...however plans for its future include community gardening, nature programing, the Lions field day , a junior league sponsored butterfly garden, and simply natural open space with the added enjoyment of the new barn and pavilion.
Adams Farm is a treasure ...leave it alone

[Unregistered]

A single field at the Adams Farms site is entirely feasible without harming the site. Future plans for the site sound great and a single marked field would do nothing to interfere with those plans. no way

[Unregistered]

There is no reason that one 110 yard by 60 yard plot at Adams Farm could not be set aside for the Walpole Town Rec Dept for athletic use. All athletic use, no sweetheart deals for the soccer system! A more practical and better use for all townspeople than a butterfly garden! If you want a community garden, talk to the Aggie School. Didn't my tax dollars go to the Adams Farm purchase? I can live without a butterfly garden.

[Unregistered]

watch out folks, the jocks want to take over every little piece of spare land in town!

[Unregistered]

"The jocks"??!!

Why do you feel the need to try and divide and conquer here? Is there a real separation of people in Walpole that need to be called out and labeled? "The Jocks" vs who exactly?

"The Jocks" in this case are Walpole children. "The Jocks" are children who attend Walpole schools, play in Walpole neighborhoods, frequent Walpole businesses, attend Walpole church services, have Walpole lemonade stands, listen to the music in Walpole center, held American flags on the street during a soldier's funeral procession, and generally smile and wave at their Walpole neighbors.

Watch out everybody, someone is going to protest against children playing in this town.

[Unregistered]

Athletics in the Town of Walpole have served and continue to serve as a great source of pride for our townspeople. Through our athletic success and accomplishments Walpole has become synonomous with having hard working and talented student-athletes- many of whom take their talents on to the collegiate level and some even beyond (see: Dina Rizzo, field hockey '98 & Todd Collins '90 NFL for example).

Obviously, there are some who have always resented the success and notoriety that Walpole sports has brought the town. Perhaps they would rather have Walpole be known solely as Prison Central. Our athletics feats extend beyond HS sports as well. A look at the recent history of the Walpole Little League and their summer ball teams are an example that even the youngsters can have some of the limelight as well. We should all be proud of our sports teams and also proud of the local businesses that year in and year out continue to help support them.

In regards to the new fields proposal/field study being done, it is long overdue. In terms of our youth, Walpole is a growing town. Just look at the school enrollment trends. Stone Field is an abomination as is the ballfield in front of Turco field. We owe it to the town and its kids not to let the field deteriorate any longer. I believe that a mixed use athletic field in the Adams Farm area is a great idea. A pristine looking baseball or soccer field would be a beautiful addition to an already beautiful area that is vastly underused.

For anyone to make such a pathetic statement along the lines of "Watch out for the jocks taking over ..." is so completely juvenile that I am wondering if that person may still be bitter over being cut from their high school soccer team. I hate to get personal but statements such as that are beyond ignorant and immature.

And just for the record, this is coming from someone who appreciates and loves Walpole exactly the way it is - from the downtown area to South Walpole. I am proud of our town and its student athletes and will be supportive of all reasonable efforts to bring about some needed updates and reorganization to all our athletics fields for the use of BOTH athletes and also of the father and son or group of boys or girls who simply want to enjoy a pickup game.

~ Publius

[Unregistered]

an athletic field at the edge of adams farm would not be a bad thing. The ground is relatively flat and the prep work would be simplified because of that. I am a strong supporter of Adams Farm, but I'd like to see more use of it, and an athletic field seems to fit into the picture. I would even support an artificial turf field there.

Currently, it is a dog-walking park, and mostly utilized by non-walpole residents.

[Unregistered]

when did the word jock become a derogatory word? i find these responses way overboard.

i'm a jock and proud of it

[Unregistered]

What is the justification for this statement, town does not take care of soccer fields?

[Unregistered]

use the MWRA land next to MCI-CJ, look at the nice fields Norfolk got from prison land off Route 115. Boynton says " construction challenges from topography", let's hear more. Or, here is a radical idea: use the nice flat hay field across from Baystate Correctional Center, which is located just over the border in Norfok! Set up some kind of user agreement with Town of Norfolk, DOC and Town of Walpole. Or do a land swap!

[Unregistered]

I may seem uninformed with this comment, but what's wrong with fixing Stone Field, and Johnson Middle School? do we not own this land already? would it not be cheaper to revamp these cites than to construct in a completely new location?

I've coached baseball and softball, and I've been forced to play on these minefields for years. I've always felt the Stone - which is an abject disgrace -could and should be the center piece of the town.

Bird JHS is nice, and Morgan - while it needs a little work is getting better.

I do agree with the other posters in that soccer is given far too much weight in Walpole. I have 4 kids, non of whom play. Sure they played rec soccer (on Stone Field) but - as it is for a majority I suspect - it's baseball, softball, hockey and football. More lacrosse even than soccer.

The HS field will take care of the serious soccer players (those who play for the high school team that is) but will Mylod ever have anything bu youth soccer? And East Walpole? Heck, I can't even walk on that field as the gates are always locked.

Personally, I'm not in favor of adding any athletic field on the Adams's Farm location. Though I do not frequent the cite, it is an escape. Adding a ballfield of any kind there would diminish that experience.

[Unregistered]

You are right about a few things and misinformed about others. The field at Stone is a abject disgrace, we do own Johnson Middle school, but have chosen not to make improvements for various reasons.

The youth soccer program is probably the largest youth organization in town with 1,000 strong.

The Mylod complex was developed by the the youth soccer organization and 100% funds it. The fields in East Walpole you refer to are privately owned by the Trustees of Reservations but are managed and maintained by the youth soccer organization.

You say too much weight given to soccer, they are pulling their weight!

[Unregistered]

You are right about a few things and misinformed about others. The field at Stone is a abject disgrace, we do own Johnson Middle school, but have chosen not to make improvements for various reasons.

The youth soccer program is probably the largest youth organization in town with 1,000 strong.

The Mylod complex was developed by the the youth soccer organization and 100% funds it. The fields in East Walpole you refer to are privately owned by the Trustees of Reservations but are managed and maintained by the youth soccer organization.

You say too much weight given to soccer, they are pulling their weight!

A few clarifications...

The Mylod field was leased from the town for $1 per year until the year 2014 (I may be mistaken on the end point). The soccer program cleared, installed, and currently maintain the field. This was an agreement, possibly not well publicized, but it is what it is. The soccer program essentially "owns" Mylod until 2014, at which time the lease runs out and I imagine some further negotiations will take place.

The Ellis field is a public field for the state of Massachusetts. It is run by a trustee organization. The soccer program donates a large sum of money to the trustees for field maintenance. It would appear that the trustees have in turn allowed the soccer program to run Ellis field, or more to the point, secure the field. Ellis field should be open to all Walpole residents regardless of any sport association, but unfortunately it is not.

I would suggest that soccer is not so much "pulling their own weight", but are instead boxing out (excuse the multi-sport references) the non-soccer playing children of Walpole for their own gain.

[Unregistered]

I would invite anyone that thinks the town doesn't need to address this problem to wander down to Stone Field one evening and look at the deplorable condition of the youth football field. Like the Okies of yesteryear, the kids toil in a virtual dustbowl, with more rocks than grass on the field. A "great sports town" needs to have better facilities to continue that tradition.

[Unregistered]

The elementary schools are starting the year without librarians, three of the town schools are still not hardwired to the fire department, but the Board of Selectmen have decided the best use of that $35,000 is to spend it on a recreational field study?

I know three boy scouts looking for an eagle project that are aces with computers and would have done that study for free.

[Unregistered]

get those boyscouts to do it anyway...we may find they figure this whole thing out before any adults do.

[Unregistered]

True enough, but if the field is to be repaired and maintained, something must give. You can't keep good grass on it, and geese and have carnivals, bonfires, etc. You might get away with the 4th, if the turf was well established for a few years and had a sprinkler system.

[Unregistered]

Exactly, control the geese, kick the carnival out of town, or up to Adams Farm, aerate, resod and water the field!

[Unregistered]

I watched a stone-field football practice the other night. I was totally shocked at how much dust is raissed by those kids! They are breathing all that dust in, which includes the goose dung. That couldn't be a good thing, right?? from a distance, it looked like a rodeo was going on. :)

[Unregistered]

The fire department used to take their ladder truck and spray the field. They can cover most of the field from 100' up. It wouldn't cure the geese dropping problem, but it may keep the dust down until we get a little rain.

[Unregistered]

I'm wondering why the Health Deptarment has allowed young people to play on the goose poop field for years. It can't be safe. Why are parents letting the children play on that field??

[Unregistered]

Duh, this thread is full of parents speaking out against the field conditions. Furthermore, as a coach in a few sports, I can attest to the fact that partents are always complaining about these conditions. And most of the coaches agreee with the parents.

I coach these kids, and I see them slipping and sliding in this crap all the time. (And it I'm talking about girls softball here, not football.)

You want to solve the goose crap problem. Start hunting these "rats with wings". 20 years ago they were somewhat (again, "Somewhat") endangered so all these laws were enacted to protect them. Now they have taken over every ballfield, school yard, playground and golf course in the state.

Morgan and Stone are particularly bad because they are close to a water source in Diamond Pond. Johnson which - as an earlier poster said is not receiving any funding for "a number of reasons" - is not too bad as far as geese are concerned,but the field itself is very bad.

Even with a brand new field, you gotta solve this goose problem.

P.S ( I'd like to know some of those reasons Johnson isn't getting done over, It certainly gets used enough.)

[Unregistered]

The WHS football varsity football team is playing their home games at Westwood High School until Turco is finished.

Huge upset win over highly rated Natick on Saturday. Way to go, ol' sons of Dixie!

[Unregistered]

"Huge upset win over highly rated Natick on Saturday. Way to go, ol' sons of Dixie!"

what a lunk-headed thing to say, considering our little league team was whalloped by a bunch of real sons of dixie! :(

[Unregistered]

'Ol sons of Dixie? What century are we in?

[Unregistered]

The dixie and rebel stuff has been an embarrassment for years. the longer it goes on, the more foolish the town looks. I think that it is time to dump it for good.

[Unregistered]

"Fans of the Walpole rebel football team leaft the new rehabbed Turco field yesterday with heads held low.

With just 3 seconds remaining in the game between the Walpole HS Rebels and arch-rival Norwood HS Mustangs,and the score tied at 14, the Rebels appeared to be upon the verge of victory as cornerback Joe Schmoe blocked Norwoods apparent game winning field goal attempt and raced un-challenged down the sidelines towards the end zone.

Alas! While the himming sounds of "Dixie" could be heard on the lips of all Walpole fans in attendance, Schmoe slipped in a huge pile of goose crap and broke his leg, fumbling the ball the process, which was then picked up and returned by the the Norwood place kicker for a 99 yard score."

In a somewhat related story, town meeting convened last evening to vote on hiring an outside consultant to investigate the whereabouts of thier own heads.

Concerned citizens mantain that the estimated 100k could be better spent elsewhere, and that the TM need look no further than thier own fannies. The TM agreed, and decided to re-convene in October to discuss the hiring of an outside consultant to determine the cost associate with the removal of TM heads from thier own fannies."

[Unregistered]

thre rebel thing is tired and worn out. it has controversy attached to it. the kids down in williamsport didn't need to be called rebels to bring us all together (and they did, didn't they?). they taught all of us a lesson, and i think its time for something new

[Unregistered]

Yes, let us all embrace the political correctness that is forcing sports teams and high schools to change their name because there are people who are so sensitive that the nickname of a sports team offends them.

Stonehill College used to be known as the "Chieftains." Now they're the Skyhawks. Natick HS is the "Redmen" and soon enough they will have some common name shared by hundreds of schools because their school committee thought it was a good idea.

I may be going out on a limb here, but I am guessing the people who reject the "Rebel" moniker A) are not from Walpole and have moved here in the past 10 years or B) never played sports at WHS. Because to the people who were WHS athletes or were the parents of a WHS athlete the name means a lot. It stands for hard work, dedication, family, and a "never quit" attitude. Yah, we Rebels & Rebel Parents value tradition and singing Dixie after a win. We think orange and blue are the best matched things since peanut butter and jelly. Have we committed any crimes yet?

Go ahead. Call us ignorant or blind or, even worse, racists. That is the typical line thrown at people who defend our name. You may even ask us what our thoughts are on the Civil War, slavery, and the cotton gin. Am I in the right area?

The political correctness that exists in this town and, truth be told, across the country is really sad. Soon enough we will become so "sensitive" that our entire society will become completely homogenized and we can all be the same.

If there was not a risk of this reply not being posted, there is much more I would like to say. I have one more question to you Rebel Haters out there ... Would you prefer youth sports to stop keeping score so that our youngsters learn that winning isn't what is important?

Get real and get a life. GO REBELS!

~Rebel Parent

[Unregistered]

Which one of you "adults" assign any relevance to the high school sports teams' nickname? Who cares if they are called the "Rebels" or the "Dixie Chicks"? Aren't there more pressing issues for everyone out of high school to worry about? The field hockey girls are comfortable calling themselves the "Porkers" so why should anyone else care? Anyone in town who wants to live vicariously through the successes and failures of youth or high school sports teams need a heavy dose of maturity. Sure, it's great that they are successful, and townsfolk are right to take pride in their accomplishments, but when 40-somethings express concern over the high school mascot, this is misdirected fervor.

[Unregistered]

more "rebel pride" drivel from some over-rebellized parent! whwere did you get the connection between rebels and family? Gone With The Wind??

[Unregistered]

whats the big deal here? we all have lived with this rebel thing for over 30 years now. personally i am used to having our town look like a bunch of racists. you sing dixie, you wave a confederate flag, what do you get: labelled. (and all of us along with you).

[Unregistered]

If we're not labeled because of our high school mascot, we're labeled because we have a prison in our town...

Either way, you can either allow it to bother you what people call you and label you, or you can choose to move above it and take pride in that which is Walpole. The old addage "sticks and stones may break my bones but names/criticism/shallowmindedness/uninformedness will never hurt me" (ok, I embellished a little, but you get the point!)

No, this is not a perfect town... it has its share of issues. But on the whole, I still take huge pride in living in this town and in raising my family here.

You get from this town what you put into it.

The fact that we have the Rebel as a mascot is minimal in the grand scheme of things. These same "rebel families" rally around their community when tragedy or bad fortune strikes... the Rebels don't define us or who we are. That's like saying the prison being in our town is a reflection on each of us. What the heck?

[Unregistered]

What about the diligent, studious hard-working youth student/athelete who grows up in Walpole and goes through the youth sports system, but then chooses to continue on at Bishop Feehan, or Ursuline, or Xaverian, or BC High? Are townsfolk not supposed to "take pride" in his/her accomplishments? Of course not! But does anyone in Walpole care what Xaverian's nickname is? No! So you "Rebel" opponents, relax! It's a distinctive nickname that people associate with positive images in town. Leave it at that!

[Unregistered]

Being labelled a racist town by outsiders due to a mascot is definitely not a positive image for the town of walpole, and anyone who says otherwise is definitely in denial.

My physical therapist told me she didn't want to buy a house in walpole because of that issue (which I must admit I thought was rediculous), but that was her perception. (she bought in Norwood...boo)

the mascot is divisive, plain and simple, and anyone outside of the town sees that quite plainly.

the sticks and stones comparison is totally rediculous

[Unregistered]

The sticks and stones comparison is as ridiculous as being called racist because of the town's high school mascot!

True, nobody wants to be called a racist.

But if someone calls me a racist because of the high school mascot, I'll laugh in their face and welcome them to buy their house in a different town.

Do you think anybody in the country, in the world, looked at our Walpole Americans baseball team and though "oooohhhh... those are the kids from that racist town"???? I'm pretty sure that those people who have better things to do than look for problems where they don't exist did not think that for one little minute.

[Unregistered]

Hasn't this thread strayed a bit from its intended topic?

How about banning the discussion on the Rebel thing, or at least starting a new thread devoted to that specifically.

This thread was for athletic fields, not to discuss racism in Walpole. Do I think racists live in Walpole?

Yes. Do they get a charge out of having the mascot named Rebels? Its quite obvious to any American that they would, especially the dixie-singing confederate flag waving crowd (which happens to include one of my neighbors..something that I don't particularly like when I have company over).

[Unregistered]

How does anyone make the quantum leap that "Rebel" is strictly a racist term? Even one w/ a cursory knowledge of American history would allow that many Southerners joined the "Rebel" cause for other reasons, like self-determination, Northern animus, or state or regional loyalty. If a Norwood physical therapist doesn't want to buy in Walpole because the high school nickname is "racist" well then, God love her. Her priorities are hopelessly warped. Hopefully she never has to attend a conference in Washington, DC. That might really offend her sensibilities!

[Unregistered]

Oh, how tiring and boring. The discussion is going to be about states rights, slavery, political correctness, etc.? Come-on people, this is so destructive for our community!

The defenders of the rebel thing always try to justify keeping it, and somehow glorifying the great noble cause of the south (Gone-With-The-Wind style).

The detractors always try to point out the foolishness of it.

We all can agree: it is controversial and divisive (clearly, from the comments on this thread). That alone should justify a change. Simple as that. Are we a united community behind our athletics teams?

No, and we haven't been for about 30 years. Many long for the days (like, 1963), when it was plain old WALPOLE WINS in the headlines.

We got a taste of that this summer with a bunch of little kids, and the rest of the country did as well.

Lets grow up, admit it, and find something else as a model for our youth. Walpole deserves better than this!

For the folks who think we live vicariously through our athletics teams and ought to not dwell on the issue:

Maybe you didn't grow up here and experience the uphoria of having your fellow classmates make it on a bigger-than-local stage, or maybe you are a new-comer who is going to flip your property and don't really give a damn about the place.

We Do Care! Walpole is truly an All-American town, worthy of something better.

[Unregistered]

Adams Farm seems to be a logical chose for Walpole Recreation fields. You would think that the Walpole recreation department could use some of the 700 acres!


A committee appointed to study potential uses for land in North Walpole
June 1999 to April 2000

http://www.walpole.ma.us/adamsfarmreport.htm


“This category of the potential Adams Farm land use deals primarily with the proposal by the Recreation Department for conversion of the hay fields to the left and right of the entryway from North Street into active athletic fields for use by school and Town recreation groups. At a meeting with the Selectmen early in 2000, with a Recreation Fields Committee representative in attendance, it was suggested by the Selectmen that the Recreation Department and our Committee meet to discuss not only potential athletic field sites at Adams Farm, but alternative sites that our Committee might suggest.
On March 27, 2000, we met with Recreation Director Josh Cole, Fields Committee Chairman Joe Scimone, High School Athletic Director Bill Erker and Committee member Frank Brown. At that meeting, they demonstrated the Town’s need for additional fields for soccer, football, lacrosse, baseball, softball and the like for all age groups, female and male, from age 4 T-ball to men’s softball at age 50. They clearly demonstrated their frustration in their inability to fulfill the need for additional facilities . They also itemized some potential sites for expansion of these activities, Lincoln Road landfill, Robbins Road (Johnson Middle School), Longview Farm, Sharon Country Day, Allen Dam, Summer Street Waterpark, Green’s Farm, land swap with NCAS, Old Post Road expansion, Town Forest expansion, Elm Street and other less likely situations. From the perspective of the Recreation Committee, many of these potential sites had been defeated by the NIMBY syndrome or by Federal, State and local use restrictions.
Part of the problem faced by the Recreation Committee is short-term, based on the High School reconstruction; the loss of Plimpton field and the loss of upper Turco "being off-line with no walkway."
In order to reach any conclusion on this situation we must balance the ecological integrity and aesthetic appearance of Adams Farm with the needs to provide places for athletic activity. This truly is the dilemma.
Their proposal is to put two soccer/lacrosse fields to the left of the road in and one softball field to the right with a backstop. Parking would be provided near the pig barn. This would be contrary to the understanding of the Committee in view of the public comments received and our own feelings relative to the future of the property.”

[Unregistered]

Adams Farm would be a great place for soccer fields. The North Walpole NIMBYS didn't like the idea when it was first proposed. Kind of sorry I voted to buy it.

[Unregistered]

Just like those who look at the power plant ....short term gain for long term devestation....you have the foresight of a blind man

[Unregistered]

Fields are "devastation"?
If they are devastation in North Walpole on Adams farm they must be a devastation everywhere. Let us have no more fields then if they are devastating to the town.

If they aren't a devastation to the whole town lets put a couple of fields right up there the level ground at Adams farm.

[Unregistered]

Imagine that the folks in North Walpole would fight a daycare center and soccer fields? Give me a break!!!!!

[Unregistered]

The reason Stone Field is pathetic looking is very simple, the Town does not take care of it. No irragation system for watering, no grrooming of the infield, too many geese and droppings(just what I want to practice in), limited cutting and no treatment. What do you get? Dirt! Now Adams Farm is a perfect site for one or two fields. The people in North Walpole need to get off their high horse, no pun intended, and open up the area to housing some town facilities, otherwise I think it's time to start the ball rolling to sell this parcel of land to generate some revenue, "for the kids, of course"

[Unregistered]

Some of this who live in North walpole are the same people who would have open ams for you name it:
sludge, trash, propane and power plants in South Walpole.
Maybe they beleive their is a barrier that will prevent the polluted air/water from crossing into that part of town?
They are the real NIMBYs.

[Unregistered]

While it is all well and good to bash the citizens of North Walpole, do they really have any special claim over whether playing fields are at Stone St. or to-be-developed at Adams Farm? News to me if they do. Last I heard the Senior Center seemed intent on taking Stone St. from the town by some reverse eminent domain land grab. Certainly that must be reviewed. In the meantime, could the town please at least spray down the field to hold the dust to healthy and tolerable levels?

[Unregistered]

clouds of dirt and fecal goose dust, and the parents, with there cadillac escalades parked at the sidelines, deep breathing it all in.

I witnessed a walpole pride football practice that bordered on abuse. Forget about hte goose dung, dirt dust etc. THese parents are fanatics.

O director of Public Health, please save these kids from their parents. Its almost criminal!!!

[Unregistered]

57 Careful, your bias is showing. Have you seen all the soccer toddlers on the same field on Saturday mornings? Breathing the same dust, sucking their fingers, parents nearby. Are these parents fanatical zealots as well? Or just the football families? This has been one of the driest Augusts and Septembers on record. The Field is a mess. That is the town's problem, not the fault of the parents! Why can't football practice on Mylod? At Johnson? On Ellis field? Ask the Rec Department..don't blame the parents and the kids. These kids are out there because they love the game..there is a waiting list! Football is a game that requires mental discipline, physical toughness, and great desire. These kids are developing these skills. Don't fault them or their parents because the town doesn't have adequate resources. Most of these parents recognized this long before you came along, and have actively participated in the new athletic complex buildout to improve this situation. Call your selectmen! Ask them why Stone Field is so bad. I don't drive an Escalade, I am a football parent, and the positive aspects my sons take out of football far outweigh any of your perceived negatives!

[Unregistered]

People posting on this board take everything waaay tooo seriously!

[Unregistered]

It seems like the North section of Town has there own rules, KEEP OUT! It's obvious this section of Town feels they are the priveleged ones and any intent to disrupt there way of living will be dealt with a mighty hand. (Sounds like Kruschev back in th 60's). Adams Farm is a perfectly good place to house a field and the Town should have the guts to tell the Northern neighbors, the TOWN own the fields and not you. The Town should begin the process of preparing and converting the front of Adams Farm into fiields and stop the North's perception that THEY OWN ADAMS FARM. Otherwise, 40B housing would look good up there!

[Unregistered]

The Town, i.e. the Recreation Department should stop taking a back seat to this issue and start the ball rolling on getting fields up at Adams Farm. What are they afraid of?? Start moving forward.

[Unregistered]

The Board of Selectmen needs to find the will to make fields happen at Adams Farm. We all own Adams Farm and the selectmen are supposed to represent all of us not just a few politically connected or wealthy individuals with deep roots in this town. It's time they got that message.

[We need lights]

Folks, as mentioned on the home page of walpolenews.com, we have an opportunity for free lights at Turco field; all we need is YOUR vote.

Please click this link, http://www.newfridaynightlights.com/poll.shtml

Scroll down the page and find the entry for "Walpole". Click the circle radio button next to Walpole. Now scroll to the bottom of the page and click the "Vote" button.

The field lights are not included in Phase 1 of the Turco field project, the lights ARE included in phase 2. Winning a complete lighting solution for the field would be an enormous contribution to the project.

Please vote!

http://www.newfridaynightlights.com/poll.shtml

[Unregistered]

To anyone who thinks athletic fields belong at Adams farm: I tell you to go for a walk up there any day at any time. Listen to the birds, see the small animals, enjoy the quiet unspoiled air. Use the time to decompress from all the daily grind.
Now ask yourself how lucky are you to have a place to go For FREE in your own town where you can enjoy this unspoiled beauty??? There are so few spots left that are untouched! This is not a North against South, East or West part of town issue. This place is a gem for ALL RESIDENTS! Building on this land will cost the town in all sorts of ways......... Police, fire, water, all resources will be taxed even further........................
And sports fields do not belong on an area where the water table is so close to the surface that it would constantly be sloppy. You could dig and add fill, but water will still be there.
And the road does not support the amount of traffic that would come with fields either. But mote importantly................if there are already fields in town that need work............ fix those fields! Johnson Middle School! Lots of field there. Why not add parking to the left of the school down that road?????
Why do people think it is easier to destroy something of beauty and not work with what is in hand already?? The soccer fields are a done deal until 2014, then maybe some multi sport use can be made there, but let's think about the Lincoln Road landfill......................
It sits in an area near a baseball field already................... not gonna be used for anything else right????? Why destroy pristine habitats of animals and dwindling unspoiled beauty to build what can be built in other places?????
Go take a walk anytime at Adams Farm. Leave all electronics at home, just bring your dog, kids, grand parents, significant other, who ever. I bet when you leave there you say.................................. Wow! what a gorgeous place!.............
Leave it just like this!~ We bought it as a town to leave it undeveloped~~~~~~~~~~
Let's do just that~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Unregistered]

Who is responsible for the maintenance of Stone St. field? Is it the Rec Dept.? The town DPW? The various sports teams that use it? Why has no one sunk one penny into it in 2007? Does anybody have any answers?

[Unregistered]

Free may not be correct, I remember an override for that land. Wasn't it like $8million??? Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[Unregistered]

64..Is this the same Adams Farm that has rusted out garbage dumped back in the woods? Doesn't Bird Park also provide a get-back-to-nature moment? Every resident paid for the purchase of Adams Farm, do we get any say on its possible use? One or two playing fields up tight against the fence by the road will do little to disturb the rest of the land. Did the McMansion developers in North Walpole consider the traffic implications of building out the rest of the land up there? How will 2 playing fields affect this more than 6 cul-de-sac neighborhoods, or Bubbling Brook Creamery? I've been to Adams Farm, and I'm convinced there is room for a sports field or two up there.

[Unregistered]

I agree, there is more the enough space to house a couple of playings fields.
It beats letting the Norfolk Hunting club use it. What have they paid for??

[Unregistered]

We have a perfectly good option to utilize a piece of town property for some additional fields. The Town (taxpayers) paid 8 million dollars for this piece of property and we should utilize it to the degree where we do not disrupt all it's beauty but yet, utilize it in a small way to house two additional fields. As a taxpayer, I too cherish this piece of property but if a solution can not be agreed upon to convert some of this area to fields, then it's time to put this piece of property up for sale.

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I refuse to go on that property unless there is snow on the ground. The place has way too many deer, there is a browse line on the trees from the deer eating the foliage. Sad to say, but its a wonderful place to pick up Lyme infected deer ticks. I will not let my kids go there. The number of deer needs to be reduced. If people don't have the stomach to allow bow hunting, then place contraceptive saltlicks there!

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Did they pick the town that is going to get the lights for their football field in that contest?

[Unregistered]

Hold up on the plans for Adams Farm playing fields. I hear S. Walpole will be suing the town to move up here, if the power plant goes in down there...

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"The three potential sites listed in the request for proposals (RFP) are all town-owned: the 168-acre Adams Farm, 142 acres on the north side of South Street on either side of Washington (DPW and wells) and 33 acres at the end of Summer Street (the water tank land abutting Cobble Knoll and Concord Drives.) The RFP does not identify specific areas within the sites.

A fourth site also might be looked at: the 94-acre MWRA parcel at Main and Winter Streets next to the prison."

Let's take a look at these sites since I know them very well:

1. 142 acres South Street/Washington St.. This area is too close, from my understanding, to our Town wells and water supply and the terrain is quite low. Area is wet and any topical chemicals would jeopardize the quality of the water supply. Not a good choice.

2. Summer St/Cobble Knoll.. Anyone who knows this area or has traveled down this part of Summer St, will realize you can barely fit one car down this section of Summer St. Not only that, the winding road would never be conducive to any form of traffic.

3. 94 acre MWRA site.. Perhaps one of the better sites but may pose significant challenges to the Town since the land is quite rocky and excavation would be an issue. It still a potentially good site and should definately be looked at.

4. Adams Farm..Obviously the best site of all in my opinion. The land is flat, so little excavation would be warranted. If only one major field were built, the opposite side would provide ample parking. Even if both sides were developed, parking still would not be a problem since the frontage could be engineeredto accomodate parking. This site would, no doubt, be the less costliest to develop.

[Unregistered]

The MWRA site remains in the posession of the MWRA until 2013 by federal court order. That is something to take into consideration too along with the terrain.

[Unregistered]

....Bridgewater won the lights from WEEI.

http://www.newfridaynightlights.com/FNL-bigWin.jpg

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What happened? I thought Walpole was ahead in the voting.

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the voting just determined the number of ballots you had in the drawing - it was still the luck of the draw!

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How about we use the one million dollars coming to Walpole for "fields upgrade" in a very constructive way , we buy the 19 acres ( proposed power plant site ) for the appraised value of $800K and build as many fields as we can handle .Solves many problems!!

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I paid (and am paying) for Adams Farm with my tax dollars and I want to use it! ... and not for butterflies and gardens. Otherwise I want to SELL IT! If we are so desperate for $$ that we want a power plant in S. Walpole, then sell Adams Farm!! By the way, turn the rest of the industrial park into fields. Thrown up lights. The people probably wouldn't care based on what we have tried to stick them with. Makes you butterflies look pretty foolish by comparison... But then again, in Walpole we are not all created equal....

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I think that we should take a section of Adams Farm and create a indoor sports complex like Fore-Kicks in Norfolk.

The complex would be forprofit, but some of the courts / fields could be used for the schools.

What happend to the idea for a golf course?

[Unregistered]

It went on the ballot a few years agoe and residents voted against it.

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I think that we should take a section of Adams Farm and create a indoor sports complex like Fore-Kicks in Norfolk.

The complex would be forprofit, but some of the courts / fields could be used for the schools.

What happend to the idea for a golf course?

LOOOOOOOOVE all your ideas! Start making money up at Adam's Farm. The more $$ the better! Qaulity of life is no longer impirtant in Walpole.

[Unregistered]

I wish we could have bought the proposed power plant site and built a municipal plant. My electricty bill is through the roof. My gas bill is cheap compared to my electricity bill. Norwood electricity bills are at least 20% cheaper than ours and you get a 10-15% discount on top of it if you pay it early. The municpal plant would have been 60 watts versus 600 watts and it would have served only Walpole. Also what ever excess the plant has we could have sold it off to generate money for our town. 2 million dollars is nothing compared to the savings we would of had if we built our own. Norwood is receiving 2 million every year from Nstar for Westwood station for basically doing nothing.

[Unregistered]

not such a great idea - Norwood had to settle a $78 million lawsuit and lost:

NORWOOD - The town will attempt to appeal its electric light suit loss to the U.S. Supreme Court, but officials say the action will not cost the town any more money.
On Feb. 2, the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston ruled the town owed $78 million, plus unspecified interest, to New England Power Co. for breaking a contract with the energy provider in 1998.

Electric light commissioners, who are the members of the Board of Selectmen, this week voted unanimously to try to appeal that decision.

Commissioners say the town's Washington, D.C.-based attorney has agreed to take the case on a contingency basis, meaning the town won't pay any fees unless the appeal is successful, at which point the attorney and law firm would earn a percentage of the savings.

Officials did not divulge what that percentage would be, citing attorney-client privilege. There is also no guarantee the Supreme Court will take the case. But officials believe the appeal attempt is worthwhile.

"I think it's a good deal for the town, since we don't have to pay anything unless we win," Commissioner Helen Donohue said yesterday.

"If the law firm is willing to foot the entire bill, where's the downside?" said Bill Plasko.

Meanwhile, the town is waiting for a final decision from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to determine the amount of interest Norwood owes on the $78 million. FERC initially ruled the town owes 18 percent interest, which would equate to $30 million.

"In all the time I've been involved in this and all the tings I've read, I still don't know what the right number is, but I do know that 18 percent seems unjust," said Plasko.

Town Meeting in May will also be asked to approve a petition asking the state Legislature to let Norwood borrow money to pay damages.

The amount of borrowing has yet to be determined, but it would be as much as $80 million, if FERC rules for 18 percent interest, which would equate to a $9 a month increase on the average household using 500 kilowatt hours of electricity.

According to town officials, the average household's bill would be roughly $60 a month, while the same electrical usage in neighboring Dedham, Westwood and Walpole costs $106 a month.

Plasko said he's still looking into what the lawsuit has cost the town in total as well as how the decision was originally made to break the contract in 1998.

The town contends that New England Power violated the contract by selling its electrical generation plants and that, in effect, the town's contract with NEP expired in 1998.

"I think it's unjust that they sold the plants and made money, and they're still trying to make money off Norwood," said Donohue.

Daily News staff writer Brian Falla can be reached at 781-433-8339 or at bfalla@cnc.com

[Unregistered]

Norwood broke a contract for a cheaper price, basically savings. Yes it will cost the town 80 million dollars but what did it save the town for breaking the contract early? Also, Walpole is paying 76% more than Norwood and what is not mentioned is the discount the homeowner receives for paying it early which I believe is 15%. This is based on the same usuage of $60 and we pay $106, basically $552 a year savings for an average homeowner. Also, I lived in Peabody which also has a municpal plant and it was a 20% discount if you paid it early. Lets put it this way Norwood thought they could get away with breaking a deal and basically thought they would walk a way with a slap on the rist, wrong. Also, did I mention Norwood is receiving $2 million annually from NStar for doing nothing for 20 years as a result of Westwood Station.

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Norwood didn't save $80 million by having the agreement and now the $80 million they have to pay will be passed onto residents. No winners in this proposition. It seems like the grass is always greener in Norwood but it's not. Sometimes spending a little more for services isn't such a bad thing if it preserves the character of the town. But if you want a power plant so bad, how about Adams Farm? That land should be a money maker for the town. Let's get it going and have a commercial realtor start leasing lots.

[Unregistered]

Norwood's woes are relevant to this thread how?