The Barrington Department of Public Works recently announced it is planning to close three athletic fields for nearly two years. The field closures are intended to help rehabilitate the fields, officials said.

During a Barrington Park and Recreation Commission meeting on Thursday night, Feb. 27, officials announced plans to close St. Andrew’s Farm Field, Chianese baseball field, and a soccer/lacrosse field at Barrington Middle School. 

DPW’s plans call for the fields to be closed from mid-August 2025 until April 1, 2027.

Cat Horn, a member of the Barrington Park and Recreation Commission, reacted quickly to the announcement of the planned field closures. 

“I think that’s an unreasonable request,” Horn said during the meeting. 

She said officials need to build a plan to compensate for the loss of those three fields, accommodating the leagues with other athletic fields to use while Chianese, St. Andrew’s Farm Field and a section of the middle school are closed. 

Commission member Tom Rimoshytus said the sports leagues in town will need to limit their sports to a single season. Currently, most sports offer programs for two or more seasons each year.

Rimoshytus asked: Why do we need to play baseball twice a year?

Other members joined Horn, sharing their concerns about the potential loss of field space. 

Fletcher Thomson said the commission should invite all the stakeholders to the next commission meeting to discuss the issue. The three impacted fields are used by Barrington Youth Soccer Association, East Bay Lacrosse, Barrington Pop Warner, and Barrington Little League.

Commission member Geoff Turner offered another reason the town should offer other fields to the leagues while Chianese, St. Andrew’s Farm Field and the middle school are closed. He said athletes need to play all year long if they are going to have a shot at playing sports in college. 

Horn said the town’s athletic field conditions are impacting the local youth sports leagues and, in turn, affecting the high school teams. She said Barrington High School’s boys lacrosse team is experiencing a significant drop in participation numbers, due in part to the condition of local facilities. 

Horn told Rimoshytus that town officials cannot just throw their hands up … Barrington needs to provide a plan to the sports leagues, she said. 

Thomson then suggested the Barrington Park and Recreation Commission table the issue until the March 27 meeting, and also invite the sports leagues to that meeting. 

In addition, Rimoshytus suggested someone should relay this decision to Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey … “so he knows what’s going on.”

On Monday afternoon, March 3, Barrington Recreation Department Assistant Director Chris Vacarelo sent an email to the directors of the youth sports leagues in town. Its subject read: “Important: Upcoming Field Closures - March 27th Park and Rec Commission Meeting”.

The email stated, in part, “We kindly request that all leagues and organizations that may be affected by these closures attend the next Park & Recreation Commission meeting, scheduled for Thursday, March 27th, at 7:00 PM at the Peck Center (281 County Road). This meeting will provide an opportunity for discussion and further clarification regarding the field closures.”

A short time later, an official with a local youth sports league replied to the email: “I'm sure I speak for many of us and ask you, ‘What are you talking about? You're closing down 3 major playing surfaces for 2 years?’

“There is no mention of this in the minutes shared. Are we to assume the newly proposed synthetic field at BHS will be available?”

The March 27 park and recreation commission meeting will be open to the public.