ADAMS - Valley Street's soccer and baseball fields may receive $15,000 to $20,000 worth of "TLC" before the year's out.
Town Administrator Jonathan Butler told Parks Commission members at a meeting Monday night that he's prepared to budget new irrigation systems and landscaping for the fields in his fiscal 2014 budget proposal.
A project would mean town youth sports leagues like Adams Soccer Club, Adams, Cheshire, Savoy Youth Soccer Association (ACSYSA) and Adams Little League will have to play ball elsewhere after July.
"If we have to spread our practices out, that's fine," Stephen Vigna, a travel soccer coach who attended the meeting, said. "... We're willing to do what we have to do to advocate for this project."
Bowe Field, Renfrew Field, fields at Hoosac Valley Middle & High School and others were named as spaces that could fill the gap.
Aged sprinklers on Valley Street's soccer fields and Beaver Bard Park need replacement, but the soccer fields in particular would benefit from grading and loam, Butler said.
"[The fields] have kind of reached that hard-packed state where some heavy maintenance is needed and some time to come back," he said.
Butler proposes that the town cover the entire cost.
"In turn, I think the town would like to take responsibility for [maintaining the fields]," Butler said. "We have a full-time staff."
The fields have to this point been maintained by volunteers from the leagues.
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The Parks Commission listed the item as one of their primary needs, coming into budget season.
Monitoring the fields against vandalism after the improvements will also be a concern, commissioners said. However, Commissioner Todd Shafer thought the fields ought to remain open to the public.
"I'd love for our kids to have nice fields, but I also want our kids to be able to go out and have a place to play wiffle ball," he said.
The next Parks Commission meeting is scheduled for April 1.
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