
By Kathryn Burchfield
Mashpee Middle High School and the Department of Public Works (DPW) have been working together to get approval for a new stadium at MMHS, which will cost almost $3 million. If given approval, it is scheduled to begin being built in the second week of June, and to be finished in early September.
MMHS and the DPW have received the approvals needed for the project so far. If the idea is approved by town committees, it will move forward to be presented to the town select board. Then, it will finally be ready to be voted on at the next Town Meeting in May.
Mashpee Middle High School and the Department of Public Works (DPW) have been working together to get approval for a new stadium at MMHS, which will cost almost $3 million. If given approval, it is scheduled to begin being built in the second week of June, and to be finished in early September.
MMHS and the DPW have received the approvals needed for the project so far. If the idea is approved by town committees, it will move forward to be presented to the town select board. Then, it will finally be ready to be voted on at the next Town Meeting in May.
This new stadium will consist of a multi-purpose artificial turf field, replacement of the track, upgrade to LED lights, an addition of a “hydration station”, new walkways, and new fencing.
In an interview with Mrs. DeBoer, she shared, “I am very excited about the MMHS Stadium renovation project and the opportunities it will provide to our student-athletes, as well as to our Mashpee community.”
Mr. Triveri, the athletic director and health and physical education department chair at MMHS, says that this new turf field will increase "the usage rate by 10-15 times” because the regular grass we have now often wears out fast.
Mr. Triveri said that by the end of fall, the stadium field is in need of repair, then soon the fields that are often used for soccer practices are also in need of repair. The best time for the grass to be reseeded is in the early spring. This brings up a problem because the school is still having games up until October. In an interview, Mr. Triveri said, “We've had to move games because of our grass field’s poor condition. We've moved soccer playoff games, we moved an entire season of football.”
The most prominent component in this project is the new turf. Especially because according to the Mashpee Enterprise, MMHS is one of two school districts in the South Shore high school sports league that do not have turf fields. This other school that hadn't had turf fields, Rockland, is currently in the process of installing a turf field.
Asked about the other parts of the school that could use some attention, Mrs. Deboer said that there will be the addition of a school-day theater art elective, a computer programming AP course, and a sailing team as a spring sport option next year. Mr. Triveri also assured that none of this money is coming out of the school’s funds. Other parts of the school are being monitored and being given their needs.
Turf fields have been proven convenient, but pricey. For this turf, and for the whole project to happen, this project has to be presented to multiple groups where funding is asked for, and most importantly, a Town Meeting. According to information from Mrs. DeBoer, $1.7 million is proposed to come from Community Preservation Act funding, and $1.2 million from Capital Improvement funding.
If you are 18 or older, you have the opportunity to register to vote in the Town Meeting this May.
In an interview with Mrs. DeBoer, she shared, “I am very excited about the MMHS Stadium renovation project and the opportunities it will provide to our student-athletes, as well as to our Mashpee community.”
Mr. Triveri, the athletic director and health and physical education department chair at MMHS, says that this new turf field will increase "the usage rate by 10-15 times” because the regular grass we have now often wears out fast.
Mr. Triveri said that by the end of fall, the stadium field is in need of repair, then soon the fields that are often used for soccer practices are also in need of repair. The best time for the grass to be reseeded is in the early spring. This brings up a problem because the school is still having games up until October. In an interview, Mr. Triveri said, “We've had to move games because of our grass field’s poor condition. We've moved soccer playoff games, we moved an entire season of football.”
The most prominent component in this project is the new turf. Especially because according to the Mashpee Enterprise, MMHS is one of two school districts in the South Shore high school sports league that do not have turf fields. This other school that hadn't had turf fields, Rockland, is currently in the process of installing a turf field.
Asked about the other parts of the school that could use some attention, Mrs. Deboer said that there will be the addition of a school-day theater art elective, a computer programming AP course, and a sailing team as a spring sport option next year. Mr. Triveri also assured that none of this money is coming out of the school’s funds. Other parts of the school are being monitored and being given their needs.
Turf fields have been proven convenient, but pricey. For this turf, and for the whole project to happen, this project has to be presented to multiple groups where funding is asked for, and most importantly, a Town Meeting. According to information from Mrs. DeBoer, $1.7 million is proposed to come from Community Preservation Act funding, and $1.2 million from Capital Improvement funding.
If you are 18 or older, you have the opportunity to register to vote in the Town Meeting this May.