Recreation Commission tackles youth sports field shortages in Pepperell

PEPPERELL -- Town officials and youth sports representatives met Oct. 20 to sort through field allocation and maintenance issues affecting Pepperell's recreation programs heading into next season.

TOWN -- The Recreation Commission discussed plans to address chronic drainage problems at Glow Field, where water pools in low spots after an earlier French-drain repair job was left uncovered and compacted. The commission said it will work with the Department of Public Works to add topsoil before winter, with reseeding to follow in spring. Commission members also floated longer-term ideas, including possible lighting upgrades at the Nissitisset field, modifying baseball fields for double use as multi-sport space, and making greater use of the underutilized Bartleson field. Lacrosse representatives offered to give up use of the Nissitisset field on Fridays and Saturdays so other programs could use it.

YOUTH LEAGUES -- Pepperell's youth lacrosse program, which is organized by grade under MYL guidelines (K-1-2, 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8), fielded two 3-4 teams, two 5-6 teams and one 7-8 team last year and expects to add a second 7-8 team this season because of rising numbers of girls at that level. Representatives said the lack of available field space last year forced the boys' 5-6-7-8 team to practice in a parking lot, which drew parent complaints after the pavement damaged plastic lacrosse-stick heads. Lacrosse games are played on Sundays, generally at the high school field, with the Nissitisset field lined as a backup in case the high school field becomes unavailable.

Youth baseball representatives said the timing of next year's senior league season remains undecided; after complaints from other towns, the McIntosh League is still working out whether to run in the spring, with an April-vacation-through-June window considered most likely.

Cheer program representatives described ongoing difficulty booking gym space, noting their season runs into November and requires mats, while other programs, including basketball, have booked gyms as much as a year in advance, leaving limited options for scheduling practices.

Compiled from team and league reports, reader submissions, and local coverage.