By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – A new athletic complex featuring the city’s first synthetic turf will become a reality this spring when the City Council takes final action at its March 23 meeting. The order was tabled at its March 9 meeting to allow the 10-day bond advertisement for $3,855,059 to run to its conclusion on March 10.
The timing coincides with plans to begin construction of the field at the First LT. Charles W. Whitcomb Middle School in April. Financing for the project is made possible through the local option meals tax that Mayor Arthur Vigeant is dedicating to the city’s parks and recreation facilities. Other locations considered were the Marlborough High School baseball and track facility and Ghiloni Park’s athletic fields.
The bond will also pay for a new track and a building for concession stands, restrooms, maintenance and storage which will allow the facility to serve as a competition venue and help ease the demand on the city’s other natural grass fields, according to the report submitted to the council. A recreation path connecting the Bolton Street Senior Housing to Stevens Street through the Middle School athletic fields will also provide access and additional means for passive recreation.