text: Littleton breaks ground on Alumni Field, Complete Streets - News - Littleton Independent - Littleton, MA
  Littleton breaks ground on Alumni Field, Complete Streets
  May 17, 2017 at 4:40 PM May 17, 2017 at 4:40 PM
  Littleton officials broke ground on both the Complete Streets and Alumni Field projects on May 13.
  A crowd of Littleton officials and student athletes gathered on the torn-up remnants of Alumni Field for the official groundbreaking of the new outdoor sports complex.
  "This has been a long time coming," Selectmen Chairman Chuck DeCoste said at the May 13 ceremony. "It's an exciting moment. It's an anxious moment."
  Although work on the Alumni Field renovation project already began on May 5, the event marked the next phase of the $4 million project.
  "The renovation of Alumni Field has been something that has been worked on, discussed, talked about, and worked on some more for the past eight or 10 years," said DeCoste. "Within the last four years or so, it's been a very active focus to get this done."
  The renovation of the Russell Street facility has a target completion date of Sept. 1, with a goal of having it ready in time for the fall sports season.
  Littleton's new Alumni Field will include a turf field, new bleachers, a press box, and improved parking.
  "The students who are going to play on these fields in the future are going to have so many more opportunities to participate in the great athletic program that we have here," School Committee member Mike Mizzoni said.
  The new field will be used by athletes in a variety of sports such as soccer, cheerleading, and baseball – not just football, according to Athletic Director Mike Lynn.
  "To me, this facility is all about our kids in Littleton who will now have a premiere facility that aligns with our core values of our athletic program," Lynn said.
  Lynn is hoping that the athletic program will reach 70 percent participation among the student body this year, surpassing last year's 67 percent participation, he said.
  "We're aligning with a lot of the communities around us," said Lynn. "We're going to have a feature facility for our student athletes, particularly our varsity kids, who are playing out their last two or three years in a Littleton jersey and having that great opportunity to represent their town and their school system."
  Complete Streets groundbreaking
  Ahead of the Alumni Field groundbreaking was the groundbreaking ceremony for Littleton's nearby Complete Streets project for Russell Street sidewalk and pedestrian safety improvements.
  The improvements are funded by a $394,970 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's Complete Streets program.
  "It's been about four years of work for Complete Streets in Littleton," Town Administrator Keith Bergman said. "It's a lot of work by a lot of folks here in our own community and our partners in state government and members of our town boards and staff and community members."
  MassDOT's Complete Streets program was authorized in the 2014 Transportation Bond Bill and provides municipalities with incentives to adopt policies that promote safe and accessible roadways. MassDOT defines a complete street as a roadway that provides safe and accessible options for all modes of travel and for people of all ages and abilities.
  Most of Littleton's Complete Streets funding will be used to make improvements near the Russell Street Elementary School and Littleton Middle School such as reconstruction of the sidewalk in front of the middle school to Great Road.
  Bike racks and flashing school zone signs will also be added near Littleton's Shaker Lane Elementary School and a crosswalk will be added to the intersection at Shattuck Street and King Street.
  "Our administration is proud to work closely with cities and towns like Littleton to invest in local transit priorities that improve safety and accessibility for residents," said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. "This is a perfect example of how our innovative Complete Streets Program is providing opportunities across the Commonwealth to achieve local infrastructure goals and ensure people can safely get where they need to go."
  "We are pleased to collaborate with the town of Littleton in increasing safety and accessibility at key locations throughout the town," said Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack. "By constructing multi-modal improvements such as new sidewalks, bicycle accommodations, and flashing school zone signs, travelers who are walking, biking, driving, or using public transportation will have safer and more reliable commutes and an easier time reaching their destinations."
  "I applaud Town Administrator Keith Bergman and the Selectmen for their dedication to making the streets of Littleton more walkable and pedestrian friendly," said Littleton state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton. "I was happy to work with Rep. Arciero to secure this important grant, and thank Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack for promoting safe and accessible roadways."
  "It is always gratifying when state and municipal government can come together in a way which will positively impact communities," said Littleton state Rep. Jim Arciero, D-Westford. "This important funding will provide for safer travel for all the residents of Littleton, especially those individuals who will not be utilizing vehicles. I believe this investment in our communities will only improve the quality of life of those living in these towns."