Banta Davis Recreational area after Phase 1 as it appears in an aerial photo.
The Banta Davis project approved in 1998 included plans for a full build out in two phases. Phase 1 as shown above included a driveway off of Bedford Road along side of the Green Cemetery. A little league field to the left off of the driveway is often referred to as “Lower Banta”. The driveway continues to “Upper Banta” where there is an unpaved parking lot and a soccer field with a paved track around it, an adult sized softball field and an irrigation pond. The large cleared area was done as part of Phase 1 and in anticipation of a future Phase 2 full build out of the plan that passed in 1998.
Banta Davis Phase 2 Project to be presented at Fall 2006 Town Meeting.
The Banta Davis Phase 2 project pictured above is virtually identical to the envisioned Phase 2 back in 1998 which sited two more little league fields and a second soccer (multi-purpose) field as pictured above. Four new tennis courts have been added across from the school wastewater treatment facility and the old tennis courts next to the school will be converted to two outdoor basketball courts. A second parking lot has been added as well as drop off loop area near the “lower Banta” little league fields. Paved ADA approved walking paths connecting all of the recreational fields and a covered picnic pavilion between the two multi-purpose rectangular fields are new to the 1998 plan and will enhance the overall usabilty of the site as a park in the community. A cross country course will be
roughed out in the woods surrounding the whole facility and a path including a lengthy bridged section will be built below the second parking lot to connect the Banta Davis site to the Spalding Field site. The cost is expected to be 1.6 million dollars.
Artificial Field Turf Option
In addition to the article for the project as described above, a second article will be presented at town meeting on October 30, 2007. The second article is for installing artificial field turf on the second multi-purpose field. The Recreation Commission believes that this option will be financially prudent for the town because one artificial turf field is equal to at least 1 ½ fields if you add in the extra scheduling that can occur and it requires no resting period, no lining, no pesticides, no mowing and no irrigation. Each article will be voted at Town Meeting on October 30, 2006 and will also need to be voted at the ballot box on November 7, 2006. The cost of the Artificail Field Turf option is expected to be $578,600.
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