Ball fields discussed at meeting
Published on November 13th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - Taking in a baseball game, noshing on a hot dog, slurping a slush - it doesn’t get better than that - unless you live on Beacon Street.
Stoneham Little League President Bill Leavitt appeared before the School Committee last week to discuss the possibility of his organization installing score boards and constructing a concession stand at the Beacon Street ballfields.
The School Department owns the property and it is thus under the purview of the School Committee. Leavitt explained that Stoneham Little League services about 650 youngsters throughout the town. The two ballfields, located behind the East School building and accessed through Beacon Street, host major league games for youth, ages 10 through 12.
Leavitt also said that scoreboards would be a great addition to the field and to the kids’ baseball experience as they progress through Stoneham’s bigger leagues. But the cost of such is high and a refreshment stand is one way to recoup the expense of purchasing and installing the boards which would be placed back to back facing each field.
However, neighbors were quick to point out that their neighborhood already suffers through baseball season and any addition would continue to impact their quality of life.
Mary Malzone lives right next to the field and said that when she is not dodging the balls hit into her yard, she is trying to edge out of her driveway, past spectators’ cars inevitably parked across it. She said the parking and traffic problems occur "every single night, every single weekend" in spring and summer.
"It’s just a bit much ... The neighbors have just about had it."
Beacon Street resident Stephen Crowley echoed that sentiment.
"We have a problem with traffic and expansion of a program ... Now you’re asking for a fast food restaurant right in my neighborhood."
"We are deluged with traffic, trash and problems," said Beacon Street resident Alexander Janko, who described his street as very narrow. "We’re here to ask you to not only not approve this but to give us some relief."
Janko went on to remind the committee of problems that Beacon Street neighbors have had with past School Committee action of renting the East School building out to the Visiting Nurse Association whose use of the building intensified over the years it resided there.
"I think you people ... are aware of the problems in the neighborhood caused by actions by this committee."
He alleged that a prior School Committee allowed illegal use of a Beacon Street building, referring to the change of use of the East School building from a school to a business that grew over the time, and "pretty much crippled a neighborhood for 15 years."
But School Committee member David Sheils called that problem and the current discussion two separate issues.
"We need to stay focused on what we’re talking about here as opposed to reliving the painful past."
Stoneham Little League Association representative Paul McCarthy agreed that certain issues would have to be worked out with the plan, including controlling the increased trash generated from the concession stand. Discussion has been underway with the tenants of the East School building regarding sharing the cost of a dumpster during baseball season.
Stoneham Little League has considered alternative plans in its quest to secure score boards. According to Leavitt, both Coca-Cola and Pepsi offered to give Stoneham Little League the score boards with the condition that vending machines be added to the baseball field spectator area. But those offers were rejected due to the potential for increased vandalism to the fields.
Leavitt said he appreciated the neighbors’ concerns and would continue working with them to lessen the impact on their neighborhood. But the two fields are the only ones in town large enough to host major league games.
"If we lost those two fields, it would be devastating," he said.
"All we’re trying to do for the children in Stoneham is put a better product out there for them ... If it is not good for everybody, I’d rather not proceed with it."
Malzone complained of lack of proper notice to neighbors regarding School Committee discussion on the topic. Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly responded that, as in the past, he contacted a few Beacon Street residents who have previously acted as liaisons to the rest of the neighborhood. A request was made to these individuals to get the word out about the discussion on Thursday’s School Committee agenda.
However, he said that once Stoneham Little League has sketches and a more definitive proposal ready for discussion, a more aggressive attempt to contact area residents will be made and the meeting will be advertised as a public hearing and opened to all.
School Committee Chairman Daniel Moynihan is a member of Stoneham Little League Association Board of Directors and recused himself from voting on the plan if and when it came down to a vote for School Committee approval.
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