Sag Harbor voters approve school plan to purchase land for fields
A Village of Sag Harbor official notice is posted across the street from the Pierson Middle/High School where athletic fields are proposed. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
Sag Harbor residents voted Thursday to authorize the school district to purchase five vacant lots near Pierson Middle/High School that school officials say is the first step in improving student access to playing fields.
Voters approved the measure by a tally of 638-521, authorizing the district to access its facilities improvement capital reserve fund to buy the four acres.
A proposal to purchase wooded lots near Pierson Middle/High School in Sag Harbor to build athletic fields has drawn opposition from area residents ahead of a Nov. 3 vote. Voters are asked to authorize the SH school district to purchase five vacant lots on Marsden Street with plans to turn the property into athletic fields. The purchase is priced at $9.35M. Credit: Sag Harbor Union Free School Dis/H2M Architects + Engineers
The proposed purchase is priced at $9.325 million, with Southampton Town’s Community Preservation Fund contributing $6 million of the sum and the school district paying the rest.
The district has one more hurdle to clear before it can design the field and hold a bond referendum. The Southampton Town Board still needs to approve spending $6 million toward the purchase.
School officials have said the field would be open to community use and would allow students to play sports across the street instead of walking 15 minutes to Mashashimuet Park. They also said the teams would have greater flexibility in scheduling practices and games. The school currently has one field.
"We're pleased that so many people came out to vote and we are thankful for the support of the community," Sag Harbor Superintendent Jeff Nichols said Friday. "We are looking forward to moving on to the next phase."
Critics had raised concerns over the plan's impact on neighbors. They also questioned whether the town should spend money intended for land preservation and improvement on helping a school district turn wooded land into an athletic facility.
Joie Tyrrell is a Long Island native and covers education for Newsday, where she has worked since 1998.
