WILMINGTON, MA — Assistant Town Manager Kendra Amaral and Town Engineer Paul Alunni provided the Board of Selectmen with an update on the Yentile Farm Park project on Monday night.
Project Is On Time
Alunni reported that the project remains on schedule with substantial completion anticipated at the end of 2016 and expected opening in the spring of 2017.
“The park is really starting to take shape,” said Alunni. “The site is now transitioning into the installation phase for some of its most prominent features.”
Alunni rattled off many of the site’s recent milestones — the rough grading is done; foundation work has begun for the concession stands, pavillion and maintenance shed; and pavement work has begun in the parking area. Much progress is being made towards the back of the complex, where the turf field is being installed — the field’s basestone has been installed, the bleacher section has ben installed, and the light poles and walkway around the field have been installed. The field’s carpet is being delivered this week and will be installed next week.
Alunni anoted that the granite curbing along the edges of the parking lot and the lighting for the remainder of the site will be installed over the next two weeks. Reading Municipal Light Department will be moving two utility poles as well.
Members of the Board of Selectmen and Yentile Farm Development Committee received a site walk at Yentile Farm on Wednesday morning to see the progress for themselves.
Project Is On Budget
Amaral reported that the project is currently in great shape from a financial perspective.
“We’re very much on budget,” said Amaral, who explained that while the town budgeted $4.8 million for the project, the base construction bid came in at only $3.8 million. The town has accrued additional expected expenses, from various soft costs to signage for the park. The town also set aside a 12% contingency, of which a great deal remains.
“We’re through with earthwork, so we believe all the unknowns have been discovered,” notes Amaral. “We don’t think we’ll have any surpirses that will come about.”
Amaral praised Alunni for his performance in helping to oversee the project.
“Paul is doing an amazing job managing the day-to-day on this, making sure everything stays on point with the contracts,” said Amaral. “And [the crew] is doing a great job of getting the work done effectively and efficiently.”
Members of the Board of Selectmen & Town Manager Hull praised both Amaral and Alluni for their leadership.
Paved Walkway, Soccer Net, Football Goal Posts Added
One sign that the project is doing well financially is the fact that the Yentile Farm Development Committee decided to fund all three of the project’s add-alternates:
- Paving the otherwise unpaved walkway to the Textron property border
- Putting in footings for a combined football uprights/soccer net on the turf field
- Actually installing the football uprights/soccer net on the turf field
“Because the bid numbers came in low enough from our original estimate, the committee made a decision to prioritize the add-alternates and fund those 3 items,” explained Selectwoman Judy O’Connell, who chairs the Yentile Farm Development Committee. “And that makes perfect sense to me. You spend to the tune of $1,000,000 on a turf field, so to then have to cut into it and retrofit it post-completion really isn’t advantages.”
“The intent of the Yentile Farm Development Committee was for the field to be avialable for soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey — a multi-use field,” added Town Manager Jeff Hull. “But I think it was advantageous – given the pricing – to install the football goal posts and soccer netting NOW rather than have to come back LATER.”
A Rustic, Earthy Look
Amaral showed the Selectmen a board of materials and colors the Yentile Farm Development Committee ultimately selected.
“The goal of the committee was to have a more rustic looking, outdoorsy, barn-feel space. A lot of earth tones — grays, browns and bronzes — are being used to fit in with the aesthetics,” said Amaral.
There will, however, be plenty of Wilmington blue incorporated in some of the turf field’s features, assured Amaral.
Several selectmen admitted to taking frequent drives by the property, excited to see the ongoing progress.
“I’m surprised you haven’t gotten a complaint about a suspicious car that keeps coming by,” joked O’Connell.
Watch the discussion in the video below, courtesy of Wilmington Community Television, beginning at the 32-minute, 44-second mark:
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