Will bond up to $1 million for first phases of development

Baseball won’t be the only game for much longer at the Town of Sweden’s Redman Road park. A multi-phase, multi-year master plan for the park was adopted March 27. The master plan outlines recreational opportunities of every type imaginable.

The town acquired the 156-acre facility from SUNY Brockport two years ago. The college had abandoned use of the field house many years before, but in the spirit of neighborliness had allowed the Brockport Junior Baseball League to develop playing fields on the site.

This year, the Town of Sweden budgeted $190,000 for park development, but those funds will be eaten up by infrastructure, not really adding any recreational facilities. Those budgeted funds will be spent - $25,000 for engineering fees; $15,000 for equipment; $75,000 for materials; $75,000 for labor.

In order to begin developing new playing fields, the town board approved a resolution to bond up to one million dollars. The bond resolution is subject to a permissive referendum for the next 30 days. Having funds on hand for development will help the town pursue grants, Councilman Norm Wright said, as often grants are available as matching funds.

The master plan outlines six phases of development. No time frame has been set for the completion of each phase, with town board members saying it could take as long as 20 years to complete Phase 6.

But with the bond resolution in place, Sweden will have the funds to begin the first phases while pursuing outside funding. Phase I work is under way. Highway Superintendent Craig Smith and his crew have already begun some site preparation – clearing out trees in the areas marked for soccer fields. Phase I will include two soccer fields, two combination lacrosse/football fields, a skate park and a BMX track.

Supervisor Buddy Lester said it was important for the town to include non-traditional activities, like the skate park and BMX track, in the first phase, because the youth that participate in those sports have had no facilities available. After comments at the public hearing by Brockport Junior Baseball League President Mark Jaccarino, Lester said the town will also try to incorporate full-size baseball fields (for Pony League players) in the first phase.

Other features of the Phase I plan include the construction of a restroom facility to replace the existing outhouses. Councilman Rob Carges said the restrooms could be in place by mid-baseball season. The town will also build a pond that will become the source for irrigation of the playing fields. Computerized inground sprinkler systems will be installed in phases. An access path to the Erie Canal will be installed, and Eagle Scout candidate Ken Arnold is working on a hiking path in the northwest quadrant of the park.

Future phases
Phase Two calls for three softball fields, two baseball fields, and a partially enclosed roller rink/ice rink. Sweden will also construct a pavilion and another pond.

•In Phase Three, two tennis courts, a bang wall, splash park, two volleyball courts, two basketball courts, a playground, four pavilions and two more restrooms will be added.

•Phase Four calls for seven soccer fields, a restroom/concession stand building and an outdoor amphitheater.

•Phase Five includes the construction of a lodge, two bocci courts, the continuation of hiking trails and development of the conservation area, and another restroom/concession stand.

•Finally, in Phase Six, a permanent stage will be added to the amphitheater, three lodges constructed, another pond installed and the field house renovated, perhaps with indoor pool.

Whether the field house is ever renovated is questionable at this point. Lester said there is a strong demand for indoor recreational facilities in the town. In fact, Sweden is meeting with the towns of Clarkson and Hamlin and the Village of Brockport, to discuss the idea of a joint community center. The field house would be ideal in some ways – located in the midst of Sweden’s facilities, but the price tag for repair may be prohibitive. It has been estimated that it would cost a million dollars just to replace the roof.

Of course, throughout all six phases of the park development, infrastructure has to be included. Bringing public water to the site and running it to the various restroom and concession buildings; building roads and parking lots; installing lighting will all be as expensive, or more expensive, as the actual playing fields.

Town board members have estimated the cost of the one million dollar bond at $17 per year for the average Sweden household. And just because the town passed the resolution doesn’t mean it will use all one million dollars right away; it may take a few years to spend the million dollars, particularly if grant applications are successful. In that case, the tax impact may be less than the $17 predicted.

"We do need the community’s support," Carges said. "Inevitably, there’s going to be some tax impact and people need to understand that."