BEVERLY — The city has been awarded a $500,000 grant to help build an artificial turf field at the high school.
But if Mayor Bill Scanlon has his way, that's only the beginning.
Scanlon said he was notified Tuesday that the Massachusetts Division of Conservation Services has approved the city's grant application for $500,000. Scanlon, however, estimates that it will cost about $830,000 to build the field, so he intends to start a fundraising campaign to raise the other $330,000 in private donations.
Scanlon also said he intends to try to raise another $1 million from private donors to build a second artificial turf field at the high school.
"They're available every day, and the maintenance is far less than on a traditional field," he said of his quest for the two new fields. "They're a proven good investment."
Scanlon said he plans to speak with prospective major donors. The fundraising campaign will also target alumni and people who have been involved in Beverly athletics, he said.
"We're hoping to come out of this eventually with two fields, with both major and modest donors," he said. "I've got a lot of work in front of me now."
Scanlon said the city has six months to "get moving" on the first field or it will lose the $500,000 grant.
The plan for two artificial turf fields was originally included as an option in the plans to build the new high school, which is set to open Nov. 30. But the field plans were dropped when the Massachusetts School Building Authority said it would not share the cost of building playing fields.
Scanlon said the first field would be built inside the track at the high school. A second field would be built closer to the high school building. At one time, the plans for the second field called for stands and lights and the ability to host the high school football games, which are now played at Hurd Stadium.
But Scanlon said he is now only "pursuing fields, not stands."
The $500,000 grant comes through a state program, called the Parkland Acquisition and Renovations for Communities, that helps communities develop or renovate parks. Last year, the program awarded $6.9 million in grants to 14 cities and towns.
Staff writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2675 or pleighton@salemnews.com.
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