AMHERST — A fundraising campaign to bring in at least $2 million for a fully rebuilt and reoriented track at Amherst Regional High School is expected to begin in earnest in the coming weeks.
The campaign, being undertaken by the Hurricane Boosters, is commencing following the recent commitment by Amherst officials to provide Community Preservation Act money toward the $4.7 million project.
At its June 2 meeting, the CPA Committee voted unanimously to support spending $800,000 from the account that will be put toward the preferred, and most expensive, option for the track and interior field. The project will include replacing the deteriorating track, putting an artificial turf playing field in its interior, and making various accessibility improvements. The Hurricane Boosters aim to complete fundraising by early next year.
“This plan gives them the chance, the community a chance, to raise the money,” said Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek, who added that the boosters are “raring to go” and had been waiting for the approval of the CPA money. Without the CPA support, the funding gap would otherwise be too large, Ziomek said.
“They’re very committed,” Ziomek said.
At least $2 million must be raised by Jan. 16 for the preferred project to happen and the Regional School Committee to give the go-ahead for construction. Along with the fundraising, another source of money could be grants, and possible use of federal American Rescue Plan Act money.
Amherst is the first of the four towns that make up the region, which also includes Leverett, Shutesbury and Pelham, to agree to contribute part of a combined $1.2 million from the towns’ CPA accounts, money that is collected as a surcharge on property tax bills. Leverett is being asked to provide $109,560, Pelham $65,520 and Shutesbury $83,520.
The four towns have already approved $1.5 million in capital borrowing for the project.
If not enough money is found, though, school officials will go to a fallback plan that is less expensive and only rebuilds the track.
Members of the CPA Committee said they are committing the money, subject to Town Council approval, because the project meets a long-term need.
Ziomek said the project would be transformational for a resource that is in poor condition. “This is a generational project,” Ziomek said.
“The need at the track is really rather significant,” said Douglas Slaughter, observing that the school hasn’t hosted a home meet since 2018.
CPA Committee member Andrew MacDougall, who also coaches girls lacrosse, said four girls lacrosse games were postponed this spring due to bad field conditions on the grass field within the track.
“To be able to have a consistent field, that is lit, would impact six to eight sports in the spring, and another four in the fall,” MacDougall said.
The Amherst Regional School Committee will have until mid-January 2023 to determine if there is sufficient money for the full-scale plan. If the money is in hand, then design work would take place and a contractor would be sought for the work, probably to take place in 2024.
The $4.7 million cost estimate is for a six-lane track, while doing an eight-lane track would cost $150,000 more, said Finance Director Sean Mangano.
Ziomek said he anticipates that the fundraisers will be for an eight-lane track.
Two more lanes could generate more revenue for the school district, and the town, Slaughter said, as the track would be able to host many more regional events.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
