Selectmen Recommend Approval for Mudge and Liljegren Way Athletic Field Design

During their Monday meeting, the Board of Selectmen voted to recommend approval for article 6 item 15 on the Special Town Meeting warrant which asks town meeting members to vote on $150,000 in Community Preservation funds for designs for athletic fields at 9 Mudge and Liljegren Way. 

Selectmen Chair Catherine Cordes said the main focus of the report by the Outdoor Recreation Area Study Committee was that Bedford has a shortage of full size athletic fields as well as a shortage of total hours available for use of athletic fields.

"Even with Sabourin the shortage in total hours available won't be solved, but it will put a dent in it," Cordes said. "There aren't enough full sized fields in the center of town." 

Monday's vote follows the Selectmen's vote to recommend approval article 4 on the Special Town Meeting warrant , which asks town meeting members to vote on a $1.1 million project to install artificial turf at Sabourin Field as well as make other renovations to Sabourin Stadium.

Selectman William Moonan said while he was not opposed to recommending approval for the field designs, he said it might make sense to wait until there are firm plans on what kind of fields would be installed at Mudge and Liljegren, a question that could come up at Special Town Meeting. 

"We have the question of what kind of fields we want to do," Moonan said. "I'm not violently opposed to it, it just feel like putting the cart in front of the wagon."

Selectman Michael Rosenberg said he would like to see the land at Mudge and Liljeegren Way, which was owned by the Archdiocese of Boston before the town purchased it, developed, but that he was concerned it could serve as a distraction to article 4 on the Special Town Meeting warrant.

"This item could cause a distraction during the presentation of article 4," Rosenberg said. "I'm afraid the discussion could get sidetracked."