Raising $264,000 for construction of 3 playing fields at Gilford Meadows is goal of first of 3 development phases

GILFORD — With all its Department of Environmental Services permits and engineering plans in place, the Gilford Meadows Committee is seeking donations for Phase I of the field improvement program that will level, sod and irrigate three playing fields.

The committee hopes to raise $264,000 for the first phase of the three phase project. As to the second two phases — building a concession stand with bathrooms and addressing the use of the existing buildings on the property — member Mark Corry said they don't know yet how much they'll need.

"Our immediate goal is to get the paying fields in good and viable conditions," he said.

Corry said the committee is accepting cash donations as well as in kind donations from people who possess skills and or equipment that could improve the fields.

The Meadow improvements have been on the drawing board since the land was donated to the Gilford School District by Raymond and Barbara Carye in 2001. The Carye's originally donated the land as a new location for the High School but when voters rejected that idea, they agreed the recreational amenities that support schools and the community would be an appropriate use.

The Meadows Committee, which manages a private expendable trust, was formed during the 2009 annual town meeting by a vote of 721 to 570. It was opposed by the Gilford Taxpayers Coalition because its members felt the improvements, despite the agreement that it would use privately raised money, would eventually add to the School District's tax burden.

The initial proposal for the 64-acre parcel included as many as nine fields but was repeatedly scaled back so as not to adversely impact the Lake Winnispeaukee watershed. Corry said the three field proposal meant the Meadows Committee needed only an alteration of use permit, which it has.

So far, Corry said the only set fund raiser is a golf tournament in May of 2013. He said there will likely be additional fundraisers in the interim but because a golf tournament takes so long to organize, it has been in the works for a while.

Anyone wishing to learn more about the project or who wished to make a donations should contact the committee at sallen@gilford.k12.nh.us. For in kind donations, please contact Superintendent Kent Hemingway at 603-527-9215.