Seekonk residents pressed the Select Board over the cost of a proposed new athletic complex, including additional soccer fields, planned for the town's Maderas Farm property.

SEEKONK -- At the Select Board's August 19 meeting, resident Ken Kazarian of 12 Kenwood Court used the public comment period to question town officials about plans to build new soccer fields and other athletic facilities at Maderas Farm, a property he described as sitting in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

TOWN -- Kazarian told the board that the town's Community Preservation Committee has already approved $825,000 for the architectural and design phase of the project, and he said he had been told not to discuss the total estimated project cost with residents. He put that full estimate at $12 million to $16 million for construction, on top of $2 million the town has already spent to acquire the land. Kazarian said the project has been justified by reference to the town's Open Space and Recreation Plan, which he read from directly, and he questioned whether the town has budgeted for professional field maintenance staff the plan calls for. He also suggested the town explore renting existing fields at East Providence or the Wheeler School rather than building new ones. Kazarian noted the project stems from a town meeting vote and argued that a vote by roughly 290 attendees should not commit the broader town to the expense. Board members did not respond substantively to his comments during the portion of the meeting reviewed.

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