CPC Approves $4.85 Million Cow Pond Field Plan

Community Preservation Committee · Meeting of April 27, 2026

Groton's Community Preservation Committee voted unanimously to back a scaled-back, $4.85 million Cow Pond Field improvement plan after bids came in $769,000 over the original $4.28 million budget. The town manager said seven bids were received, ranging from $3.69 million to $6.1 million, and the low bidder withdrew over a calculation error. The approved option cuts $341,500 through measures like swapping granite curbing for asphalt and dropping field lighting and covered dugouts, preserving a $1 million state grant.

A youth baseball representative objected, saying "that's our objection" to losing player-safety features. Separately, a $30,000 private donation from the Cannon family will cut the town's planned dam-repair bond from $679,000 to $649,500, though a resident raised concerns the work could conflict with state dam-safety standards. The conservation fund holds $1,360,398.50, and Registry of Deeds revenue was down 20 percent in March year-over-year.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Groton's community access TV: Community Preservation Committee meeting, April 27, 2026
• The complete report: 743 words

Source: the Community Preservation Committee meeting of April 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.