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After becoming severely weather-beaten as a result of a late winter, athletic fields across the town saw delayed openings, frustrating parents and coaches seeking to get players on them as early as possible.
During the season, parts of the playing fields get so much use that it makes sense for parks officials to swap in fresher sod from one area to another.
On Tuesday, the Board of Selectmen approved $24,750 from the Department of Public Works Field Maintenance Fund to replace around 30,000 square feet of sod on fields throughout town.
The unanimous 3-0 decision approves a request made by the DPW Parks Department to enter into a contract with Athletic Field Services of Bridgeport, which will be responsible for replacing the sod at a rate of 75 cents per square foot.
Fields to be re-sodded include those at Saxe Middle School, New Canaan High School, Mead Park, Waveny and Conner Field, all of which are havens for youth sports, according to Parks Superintendent John Howe.
“The soccer fields and lacrosse fields just get so much play. And so we do this in the summertime so we are ready to go again in the fall,” Mr. Howe said during the meeting, held in the training room at the New Canaan Police Department.
Asked by Selectman Nick Williams whether it would make sense for New Canaan to produce its own sod, Mr. Howe said it would be possible but overall not beneficial as the Athletic Field Services’s price includes both the cost of sod, which Mr. Howe estimates to be about 45 cents per square foot, as well as the cost of labor.
The approved spending includes about $2,250 in contingency money, which Mr. Howe said likely will not be tapped: “I don’t think we’re even going to get to the contingency. I was out doing some preliminary pacing yesterday.”