New TMHS Athletic Field Construction To Continue As Planned

Field, located adjacent to new high school, is expected to be completed by July 1.

Despite the failure to land a Parkland Grant, construction of the new Tewksbury high School athletic field will go on as scheduled. The only difference is, the field will be natural grass. Back in October, Tewksbury voters had approved spending $750,000 to install artificial turf on the new field. However, the vote was contingent upon the town landing a Parkland Grant, worth as much as $400,000, to help pay for it. Town officials recently learned they had been bypassed for the grant. Supporters of the artificial turf proposal say they were encouraged by the feedback they received and will re-apply in 2013. However, Phase 2 of the new Tewksbury High construction project called for the parking lot and the field to completed by next summer, …

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marisa avellani

2:17 pm on Monday, December 24, 2012

the same way that football has been played in the past. My property taxes are way too high. Does anybody care that I am retired on a fixed income? There are many of people in the same boat as me. We are at the end of OUR ROPE!!!   more ›

2012 Tewksbury Municipal Election

Field Proposal/Debt Exclusion Pulled From Town Meeting Warrant

FOTCAC President says group will focus its efforts on grants, private donations and corporate sponsorships.

Brian Dick and the other board members of the Friends of the Tewksbury Community Athletic Complex heard the message sent by Tewksbury residents on Saturday. It stung, to be sure. But Dick says the message came through loud and clear. After voters shot down a ballot question seeking a $1.9 million debt exclusion to pay for an expanded athletic facility, the matching article is being pulled from the upcoming Annual Town Meeting Warrant. "I'm not going to get up before the voters at Town Meeting with this or with any piece of this (proposal)," said Dick, a member of the Tewksbury School Committee and president of the FOTCAC. Dick said that rather than try to get a pared down version of the field plan passed at Town Meeting, FOTCAC would focus…

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bk

9:33 am on Friday, April 20, 2012

Bruce P., You are correct about the need for the Tennis courts in the HS campus. Like you, I tried convincing people of this big *ALSO* factor. Just because we have problems in one area(arts, MCAS score etc) does not merit shooting some thing (athletic facility or at list Tennis courts) down that would make our community attractive. Sure we have other problems and shooting down this vote is "no …   more ›

2012 Tewksbury Municipal Election

Abutters Reiterate Concerns At Final Meeting On Field Proposal

Friends of the Tewksbury Community Athletic Complex make final pitch before Saturday's election.

The Friends of the Tewksbury Community Athletic Complex met with abutters and other residents on April 9 to make a final pitch for a $1.9 million debt exclusion to fund an expanded sports facility as part of the new high school. Phase 2 of the high school project (to be ready for the fall of 2013) already includes an athletic field and track, with seating for 800 fans. the debt exclusion would pay for an artificial turf field, increased seating, tennis courts and lighting for the complex. (A PDF version of the FOTCAC April 9 presentation can be found attached to this story.) Fewer residents attended this meeting at the Tewksbury High auditorium than one held last month at town hall. But those who did speak Monday voiced familiar concerns. …

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Bob

5:45 pm on Saturday, April 14, 2012

Bill, First you and the Patch have done a great job this election season. Second, there is no such thing as temporary in Massachusetts. Remember the 1989 "temporary tax increase"? In 2012 we still have a portion of it.   more ›

2012 Tewksbury Municipal Election

Residents Voice Opposition To Expanded Stadium Proposal

Meeting attracts close to 50 residents to Town Hall.

A meeting between residents and representatives of the Friends Of the Tewksbury Community Athletic Complex (FOTCAC) allowed information to be provided and opinions to be voiced. It did not build bridges or locate common ground. FOTCAC is proposing construction of a more elaborate multi-sport athletic complex than the one presently included in the new high school plans. Residents will vote on a $1.935 debt exclusion needed to pay for the project when they go to the polls for the Municipal election on April 14. Nearly 50 of those residents, most of who live close to Tewksbury High, attended the meeting March 20 at Town Hall. Following a presentation by FOTAC President (and School Committee member) Brian Dick and Treasurer Paul Hibner, …

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Votes Scheduled For Athletic Complex, Town Charter Proposals

Two emotional issues will finally go before the voters this spring.

(Editor's note: When this article was first published, the estimated cost of the field project was misreported because of a reporting error. It has been corrected.) Two issues that have generated emotional reactions from residents over the past several months will finally go before the voters for a final decision this spring. At their meeting Tuesday night (Feb. 28), the Board of Selectmen unanimously approved a request by the Friends Of the Tewksbury Community Athletic Complex (FOTCAC) to place a $1.935 million debt exclusion on the Municipal Election Ballot on April 14. That money would be used to fund construction of an athletic facility larger and more elaborate than the one presently planned for the new high school. In addition, …

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Stan

8:34 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Take some of the money you have raised and improve on the field that is already slated to be built, like adding sensors and a well.   more ›