Daly Field Legislation Hearing (Press Release from Office Senator Will Brownsberger)
The Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight will hold a hearing on pending legislation, including Senate 2306, an Act authorizing the lease of the Daly Field Complex located in the Brighton section of the city of Boston. The hearing will be held on Thursday, June 28, 2012 at 11:30am in Room 222 at the State House. All are welcome to attend and testify if interested.
Senator Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont) sponsored Senate 2306, and he believes that a renovated Daly Field would greatly benefit children and adults of all ages who will use and enjoy this riverfront park for years to come. “I greatly appreciate the leadership of Representatives Kevin Honan and Mike Moran, who have been working to improve this field for community use for some years. Representative Hecht and Representative Lawn have also contributed greatly to the legislation by bringing important concerns to the table. I think we have a package now that benefits all the communities and institutions involved,” said Senator Brownsberger.
This legislation would authorize the Division of Asset Management and Maintenance and the Department of Conservation and Recreation to enter into a lease with a non-profit organization consisting of a Board of Directors to oversee the complex. Representative Michael Moran (D-Brighton) worked with Simmons College officials to develop the specific text of the legislation. Representatives Moran and Honan had the goal of providing Brighton High School with its first ever home football field as well as providing more field access for local youth sports leagues. Representative Jonathan Hecht (D-Watertown) expressed the interests of the surrounding communities and those shared by river conservancy groups. “The parklands along the Charles are so important to our residents and the region. This bill aims to give people more ways to access and enjoy them while preserving the special character of the riverfront,” noted Hecht.
Representative Lawn who also played an important role in the House negotiations said, “I am thrilled to support this bill and another important investment along Nonantum Road. This facility will benefit many of the residents in the surrounding communities. Simmons contribution to the Riverfront Park will go a long way to helping this important project come to fruition. It is a win for everyone.”
This public-private partnership would involve a $5 million investment by Simmons College to renovate the fields and create a complex with two new synthetic fields, running track, tennis courts, river path, lighting for the entire parcel, and amenities for athletes and fans. Senator Brownsberger proposed and Simmons College has agreed to contribute $500,000 in support of the nearby Watertown Riverfront Park Restoration Project in order to demonstrate its commitment to our communities along the Charles River. For further information please contact Michael Buckley in Senator Brownsberger’s office, 617-722-1280 or Michael.Buckley@masenate.gov.
Will
Thanks for your leadership on this project and for keeping the public informed.
It would be great if there could be improved bike access to the site from Brighton.
How will access be shared between Simmons and the public? Obviously the school is spending some (or all?) of the money, but it is public land.
Will the land be leased to Simmons or will the DCR continue to own and maintain it? Who will pay for the annual maintenance and the longer-term capital improvements that will be needed decades in the future?
Thanks again,
Harry
Thanks, Harry.
The issue of improving bike and pedestrian access is a very valid one and Mike Moran has been working on that as well. He got language into the current transportation bond bill (a completely separate piece of legislation) that relates to this access issue:
I’ll try to keep that language on the Senate side. It should be acknowledged that even if the language gets in, the administration is under no obligation to spend that money.
The priority users of the field will be Simmons and Brighton High School, but their use is limited to certain hours the public will have access at all other times. I will be a lease to Simmons but DCR will continue to manage facility access. It’s a complicated governance structure. Click here to read the language of the Daly field bill (which I have filed, but which Mike Moran originally drafted).
Click here for Simmons’ page about their plans.