Town of Norwood public works and recreation staff asked the Community Preservation Commission on Jan. 22 for $25,000 in Community Preservation Act funds to pay a consultant to prepare a feasibility study for Elliott Fields.

The study, Mark Ryan of the town Department of Public Works told the commission, would examine soil and subsurface conditions, recommend field surfacing and drainage improvements, propose reconfigured layouts to accommodate new uses such as flag football, and identify pedestrian connections to the adjacent Bernie Cooper Park and Neponta River walking paths. "We're looking for $25,000 to provide this work," Ryan said.

Why it matters: Elliott Fields is used by youth and adult leagues, Norwood High School teams and neighborhood residents, and the town says repeated spring cancellations and heavy field maintenance indicate underlying drainage and turf issues. The feasibility study would produce cost estimates and site plans the town could use in later capital or grant requests.

What the study would cover: Ryan said the consultant would (1) assess soil and subsurface structure and recommend appropriate field surfaces (for example sand‑based or other modern construction methods), (2) propose field layouts that could create space for a full flag‑football field plus two half‑fields, (3) recommend spectator seating and covered dugouts to match facilities across fields, (4) explore connections between Elliott Fields and adjacent Bernie Cooper Park, and (5) scope a perimeter walking path and any environmental permits required for work near the Neponta River. Ryan described the existing ball fields as built in the 1980s and said newer construction methods support improved year‑round playability.

Timeline and next steps: The application lists a proposed schedule that begins with a CPC recommendation and funding in May, an RFP in June, proposal review in July and study work from roughly August 2025 through March 2026, with a planned presentation of results in April 2026. Ryan and Recreation staff requested the $25,000 CPC allocation to fund the consultant phase only; implementation of any construction or turf recommendations would require separate funding decisions by the Select Board, town meeting or other town budgeting bodies.

Commission discussion: Commissioners asked whether the feasibility study could recommend artificial turf; Ryan said a recommendation might include artificial surfaces but cautioned that construction costs for synthetic turf typically exceed what CPA funds cover and would be considered separately by the town. Committee members also confirmed a likely one‑year consultant schedule and noted a typographical date in the application that staff said would be corrected.

Ending: The CPC treated the presentation as a public hearing item; commissioners said the application would return for the committee's formal recommendation at the next CPC meeting scheduled for Feb. 5.