Intermunicipal Agreement between Westchester County and Town of Eastchester to Bring Natural Turf Field to Upper Scout Field
By Carol P. Bartold
Apr. 6, 2016: According to Anthony Colavita, Town of Eastchester supervisor, this time next year upper Scout Field should have a new natural grass athletic field. Colavita reported that the Town of Eastchester has partnered with Westchester County for the coming Scout Field improvements.
The county has filed an application for a New York State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit, which would allow an exchange of wetland at the southeast corner of the field due for refurbishment for dry land in another part of the field. The reconfiguration, Colavita said, can create a regulation-size field eligible to host high school lacrosse, field hockey, and soccer.
Westchester County would grade the site and plant field grass as well as secure water for ongoing hydration for the completed field.
The Town of Eastchester, Colavita stated, has committed "hundreds of thousands of dollars" to the project. The town would construct a fence around the field and install field furniture such as benches and other equipment. The town would also pave the driveway from Midland Avenue to the refurbished field.
While the town would take the lead in ongoing maintenance of the field, it has entered into a sub-intermunicipal agreement with the Village of Bronxville for garbage pick-up. According to Colavita, under the agreement, the village would work with the Bronxville Free Union School District to arrange grass cutting and leaf removal at the field.
The intermunicipal agreement does not cover any work at the Boy Scout Cabin.
Colavita noted that, several years ago, the Town of Eastchester and Westchester County entered in to an intermunicipal agreement to help improve both upper and lower Scout Field. The town borrowed $250,000 and received contributions from parents in the community to refurbish lower Scout Field. Improvements to the baseball and soccer field were made at that time. The town financed tree removal and various repairs, fence construction, and pads for dugouts at the baseball field.
Although the cities of Yonkers and Mount Vernon expressed a desire to participate in the upcoming improvements, they have since declined. Portions of Scout Field lie in those cities as well as in the Town of Eastchester and Village of Bronxville.
Pictured here: Upper Scout Field.
Photo by N. Bower
