Hingham Residents Believe It's Time for New Athletic Fields

Hingham field hockey senior captain Shauna Sullivan trained all summer for last Friday’s season opener against Cohasset. It was a sunny, 75-degree day and perfect for field hockey; but not at

The field had remained soaked and full of puddles from rain that poured down earlier in the week.  It was just another postponed game for Sullivan and the field hockey team and just another reason for the high school senior to vote in favor of the Hingham High School Fields Project at next month’s

Sullivan was one of the many high school students, parents, coaches  and residents who attended the Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday and are in support of the HHS Fields Project.

All three Hingham selectmen recommended the High School Fields warrant article on Tuesday night and the document will now be sent on to the Advisory Committee to receive final recommendations before Special Town Meeting, scheduled for Oct. 24.

According to the school committee vice-chair Caryl Falvey, the High School Fields Project will cost a total of $935,000.  This includes $600,000 for a new track, $60,000 for new tennis courts and up to $275,000 for the design and construction documents for phase two of the study. Phase two of the study will include the reconstruction of the drainage system at the football field, a potential new turf field with lights for night games and new bleachers.

“Hingham has a great opportunity to revive a significant community asset,” Falvey said to Hingham residents.

Hingham High School varsity girls lacrosse coach Katherine Creedon said the existing fields are in poor condition and force Hingham teams to postpone too many games. Creedon said Hingham teams face difficulty at the end of the season making up all the home games before the playoffs.

“Lets give student athletes the boost they needed for a long time,” Creedon said.

Kevin McCarthy, a Lantern Lane  resident and father of two Hingham High School students is also in favor of the fields project.

“We have a great town, great schools, beautiful beaches, the one thing we are  really lacking is facilities for students,”  he said.

Current Hingham High School Fields Problems:

• The Track is deteriorating.
• The Track/ Football field has a three foot slope and one side is higher than the other.
• The Tennis Courts have multiple cracks all over them.  Grass is growing through the cracks.
• The  Hingham High School tennis team is not allowed to play home games at Hingham High School because of the poor conditions
• Poor drainage to these fields have caused delays to sports, training for lacrosse and other sports is often held in Cohasset.
• The wood bleachers were installed in 1954 and are dangerous to sit on.
• Boosters struggle with raising funds at home games because so many are rescheduled or cancelled.
• No night games can be played with the lack of stadium lights.