DALY FIELD COMMUNITY MEETING

Allston-Brighton residents and other interested parties are invited to participate in a community meeting on the Daly Field Renovation Project. The purpose of this meeting is to provide the public with an opportunity to learn more about the project.

The event is being sponsored by the Allston-Brighton Friends of Daly Field, a local non-profit organization comprised of representatives from the Allston and Brighton neighborhoods, surrounding communities, Brighton High School, and Simmons College.

This week, we will also be launching a website – www.friendsofdalyfield.org – where the community will be able to learn more about the project and stay up to date with the future activities of the Allston Brighton Friends of Daly Field. The website will also allow members of the community who cannot attend the March 5th meeting to submit questions or comments online.

_______________________________________________

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Daly Field is an existing six-acre athletic complex on Nonantum Road in Brighton. The fields  have been in poor condition and underutilized for many years. Like many publicly owned recreation areas, there has not been enough public funding to properly maintain this property. While the fields are currently used for some informal athletic activities, Brighton High School and other organized youth sports leagues have not been able to use the facility for decades.

In 2012, the Legislature passed and Governor Patrick signed legislation that allows the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to enter into a lease with the Allston-Brighton Friends of Daly Field. The fields will continue to be managed and permitted by DCR with oversight from the Allston-Brighton Friends of Daly Field. DCR will also continue to control access to the site for recreational use and will handle permitting and scheduling as they do with other state owned and operated fields.

The funding for this renovation project will come from Simmons College. For several years, the
college had been looking for NCAA regulation athletic fields to use for its athletics programs. Realizing the Allston-Brighton community’s desire to renovate Daly Field for the community’s use as well as for high school athletics, Simmons saw the unique opportunity to create a public-private partnership that will benefit the public, the Allston-Brighton and surrounding communities, and the college. This partnership will provide revitalized playing fields for all.

In return for hours of use specified in the legislation, Simmons College will provide all funds required to fully renovate and maintain the existing playing fields. The college will invest $5 million for the renovations, and $500,000 to assist with the nearby Watertown Riverfront Park Restoration Project. Simmons will also provide funding for the ongoing maintenance of Daly Field.

Most importantly, these renovations will provide Brighton High School, area youth sports, and residents of Allston-Brighton and the surrounding communities with new athletic fields and tennis courts. For the first time in 20 years, Brighton High School will have a home football field. The renovations will also provide more field access for local youth sports leagues such as Little League and area youth softball, soccer, and lacrosse leagues.

The proposed renovations will be on the existing property and are expected to include:

• New synthetic turf on the two existing fields for football (providing Brighton High School a home field), soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and softball
• More field access for local youth sports leagues such as Little League
• Improved walking, jogging and bicycle paths
• New lighting
• Replacement of the existing field house, including public restrooms

DIRECTIONS TO BRIGHTON HIGH SCHOOL

Brighton High School is located at 25 Warren Street in Brighton and is accessible via the
MBTA Green Line (B Line to Warren Street) and local MBTA buses. Please visit www.mbta.com for more information. On-site and street parking is also available.