There was a recent letter to the editor submitted to the Greenwich Free Press that identified concerns about the athletic field improvement project at Moretti Field in Bible Street Park. (Caught Off Guard by Plans for 3 Athletic Fields at Bible Street Park by Susan Whitaker, Aug 20, 2024).
Parks & Recreation wanted to clarify the information on the project scope, as well as the process to getting the project implemented, and communicated to the public.
[caption id="attachment_220721" align="alignnone" width="1604"]![]()
Moretti Baseball Field Improvements – Project Layout[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_220724" align="alignnone" width="1804"]![]()
Moretti Ballfield behind temporary fencing. Aug 20, 2024[/caption]
Project Scope
There are three fields that encompass Moretti Field at Bible Street Park which are utilized for organized athletic activity. There is a softball field, a rectangular field used for sports such as football and soccer, and a baseball field. The proposed project scope focused only on making improvements to the Moretti baseball field. During the project construction, a work zone safety fence will be established around the perimeter of the baseball field. The remaining rectangle field and softball field will continue to be in use during the project, except for a brief period of time when the irrigation system is installed and connected to the water service.
The specific proposed work for the baseball diamond at Moretti Field includes:
• Athletic field soil and drainage improvements, including aeration to improve root zone drainage.
• Conversion of the baseball infield to accommodate 50’ pitching rubber and 70’ base paths. (The Field Master Plan identified this type of field as one of the highest priorities based on user group needs, and deficiency in our current field inventory).
• Upgrades to baseball field backstop, and dugouts.
• Upgrades to meet ADA requirements.
• Installation of irrigation system.
• Slight shift of field orientation, and installation of safety netting to protect residential properties near baseball field.
Once the project is complete, there are no plans to utilize these three fields differently than how they have been used in the past. Parks & Recreation staff is in control of scheduling the organized activities at all three fields. Due to parking and field constraints, Parks & Recreation only schedules one organized activity on any of the three fields at one time (e.g. If there is an organized football event on the rectangular field, there is no scheduled activity at the baseball or softball field).
Project Timeline & Community Input
Throughout the process of developing and implementing the project, there have been several instances in which the public was able to provide input on the Moretti Field improvements at Bible Street.
In February 2021, Parks & Recreation developed a comprehensive study on the full inventory of the athletic fields, including both the Town and Board of Education athletic fields. Moretti Field at Bible Street park was included in this plan.
As part of the development of the Field Master Plan, Parks & Recreation held several public meetings which was attended by many residents and members of the Greenwich sports community. A survey was also created to gain additional feedback from residents and user groups.
During the FY24 budget cycle, Parks & Recreation secured enough funding to move forward with the improvements at Moretti Field in Bible Street Park. The Capital Project Sheet in the approved budget identified Moretti Field, and was discussed at several public budget meetings, including the RTM Parks & Recreation committee meeting, and budget meetings with the BET.
Staff also presented the proposed project to the Board of Parks and Recreation at the July, 2023 meeting, in which the project scope and timeline were detailed. The Greenwich Free Press published an article discussing the project presentation on July 31, 2023.
During the Planning and Zoning application process, Parks & Recreation was required to send a letter, through certified mail, to the 52 abutting property owners to give notification that an application was filed for the project.
Receipts of the certificate of mailing was also required by Planning and Zoning as part of the application process, and was included in the application.
Staff answered questions and addressed concerns of the surrounding neighbors after the letters were received. The project met all of the Planning and Zoning requirements, including a review and approval of the drainage requirements from the Department of Public Works. The application was approved on August 17, 2023.
The project also followed the Purchasing Policy for bidding the project, which requires the bid to be posted publicly on the Town’s website and in the local newspaper.
In April 2024 Parks & Recreation provided the project information on the Parks & Recreation webpage, and sent an additional letter to the 52 abutting property owners to give another notice that the project is about to begin, and provided contact information for any questions or concerns about the project.
As identified from the information above, Parks and Recreation staff made several efforts to receive community input about this project, and to ensure the scope of the project was well known to the public.
Moretti Baseball Field Improvements – Project Layout[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_220724" align="alignnone" width="1804"]
Moretti Ballfield behind temporary fencing. Aug 20, 2024[/caption]
Project Scope
There are three fields that encompass Moretti Field at Bible Street Park which are utilized for organized athletic activity. There is a softball field, a rectangular field used for sports such as football and soccer, and a baseball field. The proposed project scope focused only on making improvements to the Moretti baseball field. During the project construction, a work zone safety fence will be established around the perimeter of the baseball field. The remaining rectangle field and softball field will continue to be in use during the project, except for a brief period of time when the irrigation system is installed and connected to the water service.
The specific proposed work for the baseball diamond at Moretti Field includes:
• Athletic field soil and drainage improvements, including aeration to improve root zone drainage.
• Conversion of the baseball infield to accommodate 50’ pitching rubber and 70’ base paths. (The Field Master Plan identified this type of field as one of the highest priorities based on user group needs, and deficiency in our current field inventory).
• Upgrades to baseball field backstop, and dugouts.
• Upgrades to meet ADA requirements.
• Installation of irrigation system.
• Slight shift of field orientation, and installation of safety netting to protect residential properties near baseball field.
Once the project is complete, there are no plans to utilize these three fields differently than how they have been used in the past. Parks & Recreation staff is in control of scheduling the organized activities at all three fields. Due to parking and field constraints, Parks & Recreation only schedules one organized activity on any of the three fields at one time (e.g. If there is an organized football event on the rectangular field, there is no scheduled activity at the baseball or softball field).
Project Timeline & Community Input
Throughout the process of developing and implementing the project, there have been several instances in which the public was able to provide input on the Moretti Field improvements at Bible Street.
In February 2021, Parks & Recreation developed a comprehensive study on the full inventory of the athletic fields, including both the Town and Board of Education athletic fields. Moretti Field at Bible Street park was included in this plan.
As part of the development of the Field Master Plan, Parks & Recreation held several public meetings which was attended by many residents and members of the Greenwich sports community. A survey was also created to gain additional feedback from residents and user groups.
During the FY24 budget cycle, Parks & Recreation secured enough funding to move forward with the improvements at Moretti Field in Bible Street Park. The Capital Project Sheet in the approved budget identified Moretti Field, and was discussed at several public budget meetings, including the RTM Parks & Recreation committee meeting, and budget meetings with the BET.
Staff also presented the proposed project to the Board of Parks and Recreation at the July, 2023 meeting, in which the project scope and timeline were detailed. The Greenwich Free Press published an article discussing the project presentation on July 31, 2023.
During the Planning and Zoning application process, Parks & Recreation was required to send a letter, through certified mail, to the 52 abutting property owners to give notification that an application was filed for the project.
Receipts of the certificate of mailing was also required by Planning and Zoning as part of the application process, and was included in the application.
Staff answered questions and addressed concerns of the surrounding neighbors after the letters were received. The project met all of the Planning and Zoning requirements, including a review and approval of the drainage requirements from the Department of Public Works. The application was approved on August 17, 2023.
The project also followed the Purchasing Policy for bidding the project, which requires the bid to be posted publicly on the Town’s website and in the local newspaper.
In April 2024 Parks & Recreation provided the project information on the Parks & Recreation webpage, and sent an additional letter to the 52 abutting property owners to give another notice that the project is about to begin, and provided contact information for any questions or concerns about the project.
As identified from the information above, Parks and Recreation staff made several efforts to receive community input about this project, and to ensure the scope of the project was well known to the public.