Why invest $596,704 if the building will not be used?

This story appears because this month’s TL;DR included an item about the closed Varney Park fieldhouse that needed a deeper information dive.

Varney Park’s fieldhouse is not simply an old restroom building. It is a historic, town-owned recreation facility constructed in 1935 as part of a Depression-era public works project. For decades, Varney Park hosted swimming, baseball, softball, tennis, youth sports, day camps, and summer recreation programs for North Chelmsford children.

Chelmsford undertook a major renovation in 2015 and 2016. Work included the fieldhouse roof, windows, exterior, interior, structural components, utilities, accessible bathrooms and changing areas, concessions space, community room, security, and code upgrades. The original fireplace was also reportedly restored.

The entire Phase I park project cost $596,704, excluding town DPW labor. That amount covered the fieldhouse, accessible walkways and stairs, basketball court, retaining walls, fencing, beach access, parking improvements, and related work.

The original master plan envisioned three phases. Phase I included fieldhouse renovations, accessibility improvements, parking, and a new basketball court. Phase II proposed baseball field improvements, tennis courts, fitness areas, and additional parking. Phase III proposed beach and picnic improvements and a possible splash pad.

A limited Phase II did move forward. Tennis and pickleball court work was undertaken around 2020, and the playground was later replaced. However, the broader plan appears never to have been fully completed. Phase III beach, picnic, and splash pad improvements were never started.

Today, the park and beach remain open, but the renovated fieldhouse is closed. Portable toilets are provided instead. The town’s website confirms the closure but does not explain when it began, why the building cannot be used, what repairs it needs, or whether there is a funded plan to reopen it.

The central question is simple:

Why did Chelmsford invest $596,704 in Phase I, including the renovation of the Varney Park fieldhouse, if the building was not going to remain open and serve residents?

If new problems developed after the renovation, the town should explain what they are. If reopening requires additional repairs, residents should be told the cost and timetable. If there is no plan to reopen it, the town should explain why a historic public building renovated with town and grant money is being left unused.

The fieldhouse could be a perfect summer recreation center for North Chelmsford. Its community room, bathrooms, changing facilities, concessions area, beach access, fields, courts, and playground could support children’s programs, family activities, neighborhood meetings, and events for residents. The property successfully served those purposes in the past.

Residents should ask why the renovated fieldhouse is closed, when it was last used, and whether the town has completed a recent inspection of the building. They should ask whether the closure involves structural, plumbing, electrical, accessibility, staffing, security, or maintenance problems. If repairs are required, residents should be told what those repairs are, how much they will cost, whether funding has been requested, and when the building could reopen.

Residents should also ask what happened to the remaining improvements in the original master plan and whether the town still intends to complete them. Most importantly, they should ask whether the fieldhouse can be returned to recreation use as a summer program center for North Chelmsford children and families.

After investing more than half a million dollars in Phase I, residents deserve more than a locked building and portable toilets. They deserve a full explanation of the building’s condition, an accounting of the public money invested, and a realistic plan for putting this historic community resource back into use.