Pleasing athletics program supporters but frustrating conservationists, Wethersfield’s council this week endorsed the controversial plan to build a sports field on town-owned Kycia Farm. In a 6-2 vote after more than three hours of sometimes heated discussion, the council decided to move ahead with what it called a “conceptual plan” to build an artificial turf field on part of the roughly 30 acres of former farmland. Preservationists and environmentalists have been campaigning to keep the property undeveloped, saying it would be best as a combination of community farm along with open space, hiking trails and other passive recreation. But advocates for local sports programs say the town is out of field space for its youth teams, and the most of the Republican-dominated council wants at least a full-size field at Kycia and possibly a half-size practice field too. All five Republican councilors voted in favor of the field plan, and were joined by Democrat Kevin Hill. Democrats Cynthia Clancy and Ken Lesser voted against it, and Democrat Matthew Forrest was not at the meeting.
Turf field planned in Wethersfield: Sports boosters cheer, preservationists lament