Framingham Parks & Recreation Director: Both Soccer Fields Will Be Available For Flyers For Fall 2021 Season

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FRAMINGHAM – Framingham Parks & Recreation Director James Snyder, who is still on vacation, told SOURCE today that both soccer fields next to the high school will be available for the Framingham High soccer teams this week and for the 2021 fall season.

“Parks crew will be lining the second field at Winch Park for use by the School Athletic Program at the their discretion for the fall,’ said Snyder.

Winch Park, which is adjacent to Framingham High, will be lined and made available to the Framingham High boys and girls soccer teams.

Synder’s decision is a reversal of a decision by Parks & Rec Superintendent of Maintenance Christopher McGinty to “rest” one of the two soccer fields for the fall 2021 season.

The fields are open, said Snyder but “a bigger discussion of field scheduling, maintenance, and funding should happen in the near future.”

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“The goal of our Parks and Athletic Field Maintenance Program is to provide clean community spaces that are well-maintained and safe for athletes and visitors.  In terms of the athletic fields at Winch Park, I now know that the schools could not secure after-school bussing for athletics and parents expressed concern about the increased cases of COVID – 19.  To increase the safety and health of our school-aged children, the parks crew will be lining the second field at Winch Park for use by the School Athletic Program at the their discretion for the fall,” wrote Snyder to SOURCE on Sunday.

“We will continue to monitor the safety conditions of the athletic fields, especially in the spring when a new season of athletes prepares to take the shared field. Weather events, current field conditions, and adequate funding are a major factors to ensure long-term maintenance and for safe athletic surfaces,” said the Director to SOURCE on Sunday, August 29.

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“The Parks and Recreation Department has successfully partnered with the School Department to build or improve athletic fields closer to the HS on Park and School properties to help support the increasing requests of the HS and youth athletic programs.  The City now has a newly renovated field at Walsh School and two new synthetic turf fields that will be built in the next two years or so,” wrote Snyder to SOURCE.

“It’s my understanding that historically, bussing has been problematic for the HS athletes either physically or financially.  The fact remains that unless there is a way to safely host all HS athletics and Winch Park, the city will need to determine the long-term transportation of HS athletes to other athletic facilities.  I appreciate your support as Parks and Recreation continues to partner with the School Department to anticipate and plan for schedules and upgrades to school facilities for the future,” wrote Snyder to SOURCE.

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