Credit: Annika Martins

On May 15, 2021, the town approved the construction of a singular rectangular grass field to meet Wayland’s field shortages. “Having a multipurpose, all-weather field is really important,” Wayland Youth Soccer board member and coach Barry Snyder said. “[Currently], we only have one and everyone’s competing for that [field].”

For the past 23 years, Wayland has suffered from a field shortage, which has impacted various sports practices and games. According to Wayland Recreation Department Director Katherine Brenna, Wayland has been investigating how to increase the field inventory to better meet the towns’ field needs.

“Studies show [that] Wayland has a field shortage and needs one or two more turf fields, or up to seven to 10 grass fields to accommodate all users,” Brenna said.

As a result, some citizens have pushed for the construction of new fields.

“We badly need additional fields, [as] we are sorely under capacity,” Wayland Youth Soccer (WYS) board member and Wayland High School assistant boys soccer coach Reed Newton said.

Some Wayland citizens have voiced their complaints about the construction of a new field, including both those in favor and against the field. However, despite opposition, the town approved the construction of a singular rectangular grass field on May 15, 2021. For 23 years, the new grass field has been debated and has been discussed at Wayland’s annual town meetings over 10 times. A major source of conflict has been whether the new field should be made from turf or grass.

“I am not convinced that there’s a health hazard [to turf fields],” WYS board member and coach Barry Snyder said. “Having a multipurpose, all-weather field is really important. [Currently], we only have one and everyone’s competing for that [field].”

Some citizens were concerned that the new field would lead to increased noise, traffic and light pollution. Some others also worried about tree removal and the use of synthetic materials, such as artificial turf and crumb rubber, which they believed could hurt nearby wildlife.

“I prefer grass [fields] over turf because it’s more natural,” retired middle school football and soccer referee Bret Leifer said. “You don’t get nasty skin burns on your elbows and knees [from grass fields].”

Some citizens, especially those who don’t use fields, opposed the construction of the new field due to its price, as they believed it to be an unnecessary burden for Wayland’s taxpayers. Others believed that the new field might attract more families to Wayland.

“I’m in favor of [the new grass fields],” Snyder said. “Even if I don’t have kids in the program, I’m still in favor of it and I think it makes our town more desirable for families to live in if there’s adequate fields [because it’s simply] great resource.”

The article needed 66.6% of voters in favor of the field in order for it to be passed. In 2019, the article received 65.6% of those in favor. Finally, it passed in 2021 with a vote of 254-69 (78.6%).

“It took a lot to encourage people to get to town meetings and actually vote and try to make sure you have enough people there to support the cause,” Newton said. “Whether that’s reaching out to them before the meeting [or] once you’re at the meeting. [Basically], just doing whatever you can [do] to get people [going to] the meetings [was really important].”

WYS members attended the meetings over the years that had to do with the planning of the fields. They also attended discussions that occurred when the project was originally being looked at as a turf field. Additionally, they were involved with the town committee meetings to determine the location of the field. The field began construction on April 12, and will be officially open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in April of 2024.

“I think it’s absolutely gorgeous,” Snyder said. “I drove [past] there this summer. You could see it from Rice Road [and] it looks like a state-of-the-art grassfield. I was very, very excited to see it. I think it’s a great use of the space and land. I think it’s exciting that Wayland finally has a new grass field.”