'Accessible to everyone': Provincetown $11.7M field redevelopment heads to town meeting
An $11.7 million plan to redevelop Motta Field in Provincetown will step into the batter's box at Provincetown's annual town meeting on April 1.
According to the town, the main design elements of the plan include a 400-meter track, regulation soccer and Little League fields, a skate park, shuffleboard and bocce courts, outdoor exercise equipment, pickleball and tennis courts and a community plaza for gatherings. A park support building would house a concession stand and public restrooms.
Voters at town meeting will be asked to consider approving funding for the project. According to the town, "To fund this project, voters will need to approve a $11.7 million debt exclusion override, which would add approximately $181 per year over 15 years to the median property tax bill. The Town has applied for and expects to receive grants to offset some of this cost."
If approved, the appropriation would be contingent on a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion vote at the 2024 annual town election on May 14. Special town meeting voters approved the appropriation of $250,000 to fund design development and construction documents for the Motta Field redevelopment plan in October 2023.
The field is named in honor of Cpl. Manuel V. Motta of Provincetown, who was killed in action in Korea in 1950 during the Korean War. Motta was 18 years old at the time of his death. Provincetown's current recreation director, Brandon Motta, said Manuel Motta was his father's uncle.
What are the goals of the Motta Field redevelopment project?
Regarding the redevelopment plans, Brandon Motta said the improvements would help make the field "accessible to everyone," noting that the current layout presents accessibility challenges, including a steep grade in places, for folks who want to use the field. He added that the redeveloped field would allow "more multi-generational programming" for residents.
Motta noted that the redevelopment plan came about after significant public input over a period of about nine months.
"The community came together and helped plan this," he said.
Gerry Goyette, superintendent of the Provincetown public school system, said a redeveloped Motta Field could allow the school system to offer additional sports opportunities for students.
"It's for the community and for the kids," he said.
What is a town meeting?
A town meeting is both an event and an entity, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's website. As an event, it is a gathering of a town’s eligible voters,and is referred to as “the town meeting.” As an entity, it is the legislative body for towns in Massachusetts, and is referred to simply as “town meeting.” Thirteen of the 15 Cape Cod towns including Provincetown have “open town meetings,” meaning all voters who live in that town may vote on all matters. Falmouth, though, has a “representative town meeting,” where all voters elect town meeting members who then vote on all town meeting matters. The town of Barnstable is governed by an elected town council rather than by a town meeting.
When and where is the Provincetown town meeting?
Provincetown's town meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, April 1, in the town hall auditorium at 260 Commercial St.
Where can I find the warrant?
For full warrant information, go to provincetown-ma.gov/2500/2024-Annual-Town-Meeting.
Eric Williams, when not solving Curious Cape Cod mysteries, writes about a variety of ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife and other subjects. Contact him at ewilliams@capecodonline.com. Follow him on X: @capecast.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Provincetown voter to consider $11.7M Motta Field redevelopment plan
