Conservation Board Continues Hearing on High School Turf Field Plan

BOLTON --

TOWN -- The Conservation Commission reconvened Oct. 6 on the amended order of conditions for 12 Green Road, the site of the Nashoba Regional High School baseball field proposed for conversion from natural grass to synthetic turf, with added athletic lighting. Applicant representatives Joe Milani and Eric Royce of Castle Blues Associates told the commission that the original construction well on site cannot be converted for permanent irrigation use because its casing was not built for that purpose; the project team now plans to drill a new six-inch-cased well about 10 feet from the existing one, run a 24-hour yield test required by the state Department of Environmental Protection, and permanently cap the old well once construction ends. Representatives also confirmed that an erosion-control breach found during a site walk the prior Wednesday was repaired the same day, with photos sent to the conservation agent.

Commission member Scott raised concerns about microplastics shedding from the synthetic turf blades over time and their potential path into the wetland drainage system, distinct from previously reviewed PFAS testing data. The applicant agreed to research turf degradation and microplastic migration and report back. Because the well work was not part of the original amendment request, the commission discussed handling it as a separate field amendment to the existing order of conditions. The hearing was continued to the commission's Oct. 20 meeting to allow time for that additional documentation.

Compiled from team and league reports, reader submissions, and local coverage.