Florence Fields - Northampton Rec Comm (Expedited Review App Denied)
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ELIGIBILITY
DETERMINATION FORM
The purpose of this form is to make sure that all project applications applying for Community
Preservation Act funding are eligible for funding. Please refer to Appendix-E in the
Community Preservation Plan when filling out this form. This form must be approved in
order for an application to be accepted.
Project Title: Florence Fields Recreation Park
Project Sponsor/Organization: City of Northampton Recreation Commission
Contact Name: Ann-Marie Moggio, Director of Recreation
Property Owner, if applicable: City of Northampton
Mailing Address: 90 Locust St., Northampton, MA 01060
Daytime phone #: 413-587-1040 Fax #: 413-587-1044
E-mail address: amoggio@northamptonma.gov
CPA Program Area (check those that apply):
� Open Space � Historic Preservation
� Community Housing X Recreation
Project Purpose (check those that apply):
� Acquisition X Creation � Preservation
� Support � Rehabilitation/Restoration
Project Summary: Please provide a brief description of the project.
The Northampton Recreation Commission is seeking funds to further develop the 24 acre
Florence Fields Recreation Park. The project consists of five multi-purpose playing fields,
two baseball fields, a restroom/concession building, a playground and pavilion, and
parking areas on Meadow Street in Florence.
We are applying for another State PARC grant next month of $500,000, which if received
would equal $1 million is State grants for the project. We have $257,757 in dedicated
CPA funds from the Fall of 2010 and Winter 2011 for the local match.
We have begun the process of creating “Friends of Florence Fields”, a non-profit group
to fundraise for maintenance and any other amenities in the future. A maintenance plan
is under development, with input received from the City’s DPW as well as local
contractors, community partners, and volunteers.
The demand for soccer fields in Northampton has drastically increased in the past two
months since the soccer fields at the Oxbow Marina have had permitting issues. The
Northampton Soccer Club currently has a permit until June of 2012. Currently, there are
no soccer fields in the City to take the place of the Oxbow fields in the Spring and
Summer because they are all baseball/softball fields during those seasons. Baseball,
softball and lacrosse leagues continue to struggle to find practice and playing times for
their teams due to the limited amount of fields in the City.
The demand for playing fields is high, and the increased demand due to the Oxbow
situation is the purpose for which we are seeking an expedited review. The construction
of the fields could begin up to six months earlier if we were granted our request.
For CPC Use Eligible: _____ Not Eligible: _____ Date: __________ Reviewer: ____________________