Bristol Consolidated School hopes to acquire 11 acres from the town of Bristol to build a new softball field and otherwise expand its athletic facilities.
The Bristol Board of Selectmen was presented with a petition from the Bristol Consolidated School boosters club to see if the town of Bristol would give the school an approximately 11-acre parcel of municipal land adjacent to the school.
According to the petition, the expansion of the facilities would benefit both students and the community as a whole.
“We’re looking at building a softball field,” BCS Athletic Director Chris Perry said. “At the moment we have to transport our kids to the Pemaquid Beach field.”
The longer-term goals for the land acquisition would include improving cross-country and hiking trails, according to Perry.
The 11-acre parcel is home to the Bristol Recreational Trail, but is otherwise undeveloped, according to Bristol Town Administrator Kristine Poland.
Last year, Bristol Consolidated School expanded the soccer field, according to Poland. The fundraising for the expansion project was headed by the boosters, and the town contributed to the project.
The board of selectmen agreed to put the petition on the warrant for the next town meeting.
“I think it’s a good idea if they want to expand the facilities to use that property,” Chairman Chad Hanna said. “But where it’s a petition, I think we ought to put this on the warrant for the next town meeting, and discuss the options.”
Selectman Paul Yates was not sure if the school would need all 11 acres to expand its facilities.
“We could transfer what is appropriate for the purpose, and retain the rest to the town,” he said.
The topic of petitions brought up a question from Poland to the board of selectmen.
Bristol currently requires nonprofits and other agencies who request money from the town to submit a petition each year.
“If (the organizations are) not changing the amount of money they’re requesting, is it necessary for them to go through the (petition) process every year?” Poland said. “Can we change it up a bit and request petitions when they’re requesting a different appropriation, or when they’re a new agency?”
“This would be a good topic to go over with the budget committee,” Hanna said.
