#MiddleburyCT #ArtificialTurf #CTRushCentral
By MARJORIE NEEDHAM
Question 5 on the May 7, 2025, referendum ballot asked voters to approve the town “considering” entering a lease/licensing agreement with CT Rush Central for an artificial turf soccer field at Meadowview Park. The question was soundly defeated with 812 “no” votes and 278 “yes” votes. However, the project is not yet dead.
Asked what he thought should happen next, First Selectman Edward B. St. John said it wasn’t clear and he would have to ask Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Carolanne Browne what the commission wished to do. At the May 8 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, it was clear members did not want to abandon the CT Rush Central project to install artificial turf at Meadowview Park.
Member Mike Roach said residents seemed to be more worried about the process than the project itself. He said he thought it was a good idea and wondered if CT Rush would donate time on the field for Middlebury residents.
Browne said, “We can still move forward if Rush wants to.” She said she thought people were not necessarily against the turf field but felt they didn’t have enough information, and they wanted to review the contract before it was signed.
Roach said he thought people would like the plan if they had more information and he thought they could get a win-win situation moving forward. “It’s our duty to talk to them (Rush) and make it a win-win,” he said.
Harold Zinno agreed and said the commission needs to come up with what it wants and then meet with Rush.
Browne said it would be to everyone’s advantage to find a way to protect the town but also cultivate a good partnership with Rush soccer. She said she would ask the first selectman to contact Rush.
The CT Rush Central project to lease land at Meadowview Park and install an artificial turf field there was first discussed publicly on April 8, 2025. The field would be close to the Lake Elise Cemetery with the short end of the field perpendicular to it. The field itself would be fenced and have LED lighting on 80-foot high poles for nighttime use. The adjoining baseball/softball field would be replaced with a grass soccer field. CT Rush would pay for the $2 million field and then would maintain it and replace the turf as needed.
The next Parks and Rec Commission meeting will be Thursday, June 12, at Shepardson Community Center in Room 7.
