Sports

Winchester Moves Closer To Adding More Athletic Fields

The Winchester Soccer Club hopes to have more fields built in Winchester by the fall of 2013.

Winchester is another step closer to having more playing fields in town.

The town has recently renovated , which includes a state-of-the-art turf field, 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.

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In December, the Winchester Soccer Club informed the Board of Selectmen that they have purchased and plan on developing two properties at 120 and 134 Cross Street – the Computer Fulfillment lot and the Marotta property – and turning 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.”

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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.”

The club will be meeting with neighbors on Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. at the to discuss the project in more detail.

According to Stackhouse, the club had an environmental test completed to their satisfaction, and an initial traffic study showed that traffic should not significantly increase in the area.

The soccer club are also about to begin their fundraising campaign. And, if all goes according to plan, Stackhouse said that the new fields could open by the fall of 2013.

“It’s a great project and something to be proud of,” said DPW Acting Director, Jay Gill. It’s something we can all help and support.”


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