Lewiston residents play soccer Monday at the Franklin Athletic Complex at Lewiston High School. The Lewiston City Council approved changes that will limit public use of the fields to reservation-only and a fee-based system after continued issues with vandalism. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
LEWISTON — The city will limit public use of its artificial turf fields to reservation-only in response to concerns from school and city officials over continued vandalism and wear and tear on the fields.
The City Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday to approve the updates to its parks ordinance, which also shifts the closing times of several public parks.
The Franklin Pasture complex, which includes Don Roux Field, Joe Deschenes Baseball Field, and the Franklin track and tennis courts, has artificial turf fields that school officials have said are experiencing continued vandalism and damage from users unaffiliated with the school department and organized groups.
Megan Bates, deputy director of Public Works, said Tuesday that city staff has to consider “life expectancy and replacement costs” for the turf fields that cost taxpayers millions.
However, those opposed to the decision said taxpayers should be able to use the facilities without barriers, and that they add to a community that supports recreation and wellness. Fees for using the Franklin fields range from $45 to $195.
“Why invest money into these facilities and then not let people use them?” Councilor Scott Harriman asked.
Jason Fuller, athletic director for Lewiston schools, said he’d like the fields to be open to the public but the issues have been “countless.” He said he and other staff and coaches are constantly picking up trash, cleaning dugouts, and picking candy, gum and rocks off the artificial playing surfaces. He said track and field equipment, goals, press box items and more have had to be replaced due to damage.
He said someone recently had a family picnic on the baseball field and left the trash.
“This is an athletic complex, not a park,” he said. “It’s hard to say close the fields, but it’s an asset that needs to be protected.”
Bates said the city does not typically have any issues with groups who rent the facilities because someone supplies contact info and there’s more direct involvement with staff.
Two Lewiston residents who play soccer on the fields regularly said they just learned about the proposed changes, so they were not able to make attempts to address the issues. Many users are former Lewiston High School students.
Osman Bashir said finding an adequate place to play soccer was an issue when he was a kid. He said now he’s worried his four children will experience the same thing. He challenged city officials to make attempts to talk with the new Mainer and Muslim communities about the fields.
Officials said Tuesday there were already plans in the works to do so.
Bashir said that while the city has been urging groups to use Mike McGraw Park on Bartlett Street, the field has not been maintained properly for soccer use.
Councilor Linda Scott said she understands the turf is the better playing surface, but there “has to be some compromise.”
“It’s going to take all of us to come up with a solution here,” she said.
Harriman, who voted against the changes, said the city was “jumping a little too far ahead to just closing everything completely,” and that Lewiston needs to get more creative with its solution. He suggested a “light reservation,” where there is no fee, but the person reserving the field provides contact info.
Councilor Rick LaChapelle said a group such as Friends of Franklin Pasture should be organized to assist with taking care of the fields.
“I encourage some community activism on it,” he said.
Alex Daimon-Stanic said he came to the meeting from a track camp with his kids. He said the field complex has felt like a “vibrant part of the community.” He said he understands that it feels like a natural response to close the fields, but the city should “realize the impact” that would have on the community, including the message it sends.
Reached Wednesday, Mayor Carl Sheline said, “Closing the fields is too easy.”
“With challenges always comes opportunity and I think this can begin a community conversation about the best way forward,” he said. “I trust that a candid discussion about the very real problems we’re facing at the sports complex followed by equally strong solutions will allow us to keep the fields open for the very reason we built them: our kids.”
Also discussed as part of the changes Tuesday was updated hours for Jude’s Place at Marcotte Park on Jefferson Street. An earlier proposal would have shifted the closing time to 7 p.m., but Bates said during summer recess, Jude’s Place would be open until 8:30 p.m. McGraw Park will operate with the same hours, but plans are also in place to install lights at the McGraw Park field.
The City Council is not expected to take up a final reading on the proposal until July 18.
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