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Demarco: Question 1 solves Kittery's 3-field deficit

Nov 03, 2024

The need for quality athletic fields in Kittery has reached a critical point. The current facilities at the Memorial Field complex haven’t been renovated for decades, leading to insufficient playing conditions compounded by overuse that are increasingly unsafe for athletes who play there. A town report says Kittery needs three grass fields to safely satisfy its current athletic needs! Memorial Field also lacks basic accessibility for disabled fans and athletes and has inadequate parking.

In this upcoming election, Kittery has an opportunity to make a smart economic investment to upgrade Memorial Field to a lighted artificial turf field, solving the three-field deficit with realistic upkeep and maintenance costs for years to come. For these reasons, we urge you to consider voting yes for town ballot Question 1.

The overuse and poor conditions of Memorial Field have been long known by those who play on them, even serving as a point of mockery from visiting teams. The compacted soils, bare spots, divots and uneven playing surfaces have contributed to numerous injuries – much more than on the artificial turf fields our athletes play on elsewhere. A report released earlier this year by design-engineering firm Gale Associates Inc., retained by the town of Kittery, rated Memorial Field conditions between inadequate and poor, confirming what players, coaches, and the public have known for years.

Through the lens of grass turf and maintenance standards for safe fields, including needed rest and recovery between uses, Gale’s analysis determined Kittery has a whopping three-field deficit. It is difficult to imagine how the town of Kittery could find three additional spaces for fields, let alone afford them. Alternatively, Kittery could install one artificial turf field with lights and make up for this shortfall in current and future needs.

Not everyone likes artificial turf. In a perfect world, we could employ a groundskeeping crew like professional sports leagues, and have one sport play on each field. But that’s not the reality. Natural grass simply can't handle the beating we're giving it with our limited fields and limited budget. Artificial turf solves this problem. More and more communities are coming to the same conclusion and are converting to artificial turf. It’s truly the best bang for the buck to solve this problem.

That said, we have not dismissed the concerns some residents have expressed about artificial turf, and I actively sought out their opinions and concerns to know and understand them. Through the extensive research of the Kittery Athletic & Field Committee, we have found turf options that are third-party tested with no PFAS, microplastics, or infill, and have longer life spans, including full 12-year warranties. There is also at least one company that can recycle artificial turf back to food-grade plastics. However, what turf material the town would use will be up to town leaders to decide further along in this process.

Some worry about playing on artificial turf in excessive heat. Living in Maine, excessive heat is not as common as in other areas of the country. That said, the Maine Principals’ Association has existing guidelines to manage safe play, which are the same for natural grass and artificial turf. If the heat index is too high, games are postponed or rescheduled.

There is also the concern of the project’s $8 million price tag. It is a significant ask of the town, but it’s also a problem that will not go away, and it will get more expensive the longer we wait. By choosing grass over artificial turf, the town would still be three grass fields short of the current demand. Soccer and lacrosse would continue to receive inequitable field space, and adult and youth programs would be forced to look elsewhere. This project is an investment in the community.

Athletes are often the town’s most active ambassadors. They are given enormous responsibility and carry a lot of pride to represent Kittery. When playing at home they deserve a safe, quality facility they are proud of while hosting other communities. This project also benefits adults. There are typically more adult spectators than athletes at any sports event. Adults are also athletes, coaches, referees, and umpires. Memorial Field is a location for socialization and recreation for all in town.

Sports are building blocks for the entire community, providing a space for personal growth, teamwork, and camaraderie, allowing cohesion from people with diverse backgrounds to unite in play, which should be celebrated in today’s fractured political world. This project is an opportunity to bring Kittery together and be a source of community pride – for players, fans and citizens alike – for decades to come.

If you have any questions about this project, please email [email protected]. We want to address your concerns.

Rich DeMarco co-founded and chairs the Kittery Athletics & Field Committee and is passionate about how recreation and sports benefit the community. He previously chaired the Kittery Parks Commission for more than a decade and has served as a Kittery Little League board member and volunteer coach since 2014. Rich is also active in numerous adult sports.