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Groton — The town is pursuing a proposal to renovate the athletic fields and facilities at Robert E. Fitch High School.

The Town Council at its Committee of the Whole on Tuesday voted 7-1, with Councilor Juliette Parker opposed, to recommend the town bond $14.3 million for the design and construction of athletic fields to be voted on at the Aug. 5 Town Council meeting.

It would then go the Representative Town Meeting on Aug. 13 and then to voters at a November referendum for final approval.

The proposal would include the following Fitch High School facilities: track and field stadium renovation, including a synthetic multi-use field, eight-lane track with throwing and jumping facilities, grandstand with press box, lighting, public restrooms, concessions, ticketing, storage building, and parking and driveway, according to a town document.

While the funding would be focused on the high school, any remaining funds could be used at Sutton Park, Groton Middle School and the former Claude Chester Elementary School.

The $14.3 million in funding is the first of a four-phase, $60 million project to upgrade town and school fields.

The other phases, which would require town and voter approval, include $13.8 million for multi-use fields, restrooms, storage building, school demolition and site amenities at the former Claude Chester School site and softball field improvements at Groton Middle School; $17.8 million for a synthetic multi-use practice field, field house renovation and additional restrooms at Fitch High School; and finally $14.2 million for a baseball field, site amenities, softball field improvements, restrooms and concessions at Sutton Park and a softball field, if needed, at Fitch High School.

Town Manager John Burt said the hope is to complete one phase per year.

At Tuesday’s public hearing, Mike Doyle, a past assistant lacrosse coach at Fitch and a current Norwich Free Academy boys’ lacrosse assistant coach, said the approximately $14 million first phase of the four-phase approach is a great way to get the project going. He said it would be great to see the concession stand back in better shape and hopefully the town can find money for the field house, which is slated for phase 3.

Resident Lauren Gauthier also told the council it should seek proposals to develop housing at the former Claude Chester Elementary School or reconsider its plans to turn the former Pleasant Valley Elementary School into high-density housing in a neighborhood that is lacking fields and parks. She said the council should consider adding a park at Pleasant Valley to the athletic fields project.

Source: https://theday.com/news/769339/groton-council-recommends-town-approve-143m-for-fitch-high-athletic-upgrades/

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