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Town to host info session on potential referendum on turf field, radio project

An information session will be held Thursday night, October 4, to learn more about a proposal to install a new synthetic turf field and upgraded track and field facility and a possible referendum on the issue.

AVON – A public information meeting regarding the subject of a possible referendum vote will be held Thursday night, October 4, beginning at 7 p.m. at Avon Volunteer’s Fire Company No. 1 on 25 Darling Drive.

The public is invited to learn more about the synthetic turf field and track improvement project at Avon High and the proposal to replace the town radio system.

No action will be taken at the meeting but it will be an opportunity for residents to hear a brief presentation about both projects, ask questions and get answers.

It is expected that the Town Council will schedule a special town meeting on November 5 to authorize a potential referendum vote on December 12.

The turf field proposal is a $2.6 million proposal to install a synthetic turf field to replace the current football field at Avon High, a new eight-land track and field facility and conduit for potentially adding lights in the future. Town officials said that the estimated cost of the radio project is currently about $3.8 million.

The cost of the turf project could rise to $2.9 million, town officials said, if an alternative material is used for the synthetic turf field. The current proposal calls for coated crumb rubber fill between the blades of plastic grass.

Football, field hockey, soccer and lacrosse could be played on the synthetic turf field.

The Avon High field hockey team has spent most of this season practicing at Ethel Walker School in Simsbury on their turf field due to unplayable conditions on the field hockey field at the high school. The Falcons played one game at home under portable lights last week but have so far rescheduled three other home games at Ethel Walker.

Lights are not included in the turf field proposal but the original project proposal sent to the state in 2016 called for town policies that would limit night games to just 15 a year and no night games from December through March.

Town website: Avon synthetic field project

Collinsville Press, August 15: Town hopes to bring turf field project to referendum vote in December

Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.

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