Winchester Looks to Add Athletic Fields

Field space or the lack of playing fields in Winchester is always an issue. Finding enough time for high school, town and travel teams to play on can prove challenging.

The renovation of , which included a state-of-the-art turf field, has helped. And once , which will build a brand new track and two more fields at McCall, there will be even more playing fields for Winchester athletic teams to compete on.

But, if all goes according to plan, Winchester families may also have the Winchester Community Park.

The Winchester Soccer Club has begun exploring the possibility of purchasing and developing two properties at 120 and 134 Cross Street – the Computer Fulfillment lot and the Marotta property – and creating them into playing fields.

“More kids that come out for sports, the more pressure that puts on our fields,” said Charlie Stackhouse of the Winchester Soccer Club. “This would add some much-needed additional space. We would have a couple of turf fields with lights that would extend the time of the fields.”

According to Stackhouse, the community park would expand green space for the town by revitalizing and connecting to create a green-way along the Aberjona River. Stackhouse said that the proposal would have lights, an indoor field for winter use, on-site parking, a clubhouse, snack bar, restrooms, lockers, picnic areas, benches and a walking path.

“We’d make this available to the public, and we hope to have a total of four fields,” Stackhouse said. “We anticipate a lot of room at this park, where other leagues and even the high school can play.”

According to Stackhouse, there was some concern of environmental issues, but they have been assured from consultants that any issues can be corrected. He said that fundraising has already begun and a purchase and sale agreement can be signed for the property as early as August 2011.

“To add this amount of field space to the town would be greatly appreciate,” said Selectman Thomas Howley.