How much will Loker cost?

The Loker project will cost between $2.1 million and $3.6 million to construct and an average of $10,000 to $20,000 annually to maintain, funded by field users.  

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The Loker Turf project is estimated to cost roughly $2.8M, offset by $188,816 of funds from a Recreation Stabilization Fund, $200,000 from the Recreation Revolving Funds, $118,000 of CPA funds to support parking at the site, and $154,000 already spent on design. This leaves a total anticipated debt excluded borrowing of $2.1M to $2.6M.

Synthetic turf requires no seed, mowing, painting, fertilizers, water and irrigation systems.  The average anticipated cost to maintain the Loker Turf Field is $10,000 to $20,000.  However, 2-3 grass fields would be required to similarly meet the town’s athletic and recreational needs.   The average cost to maintain each grass field is $20,000 to $30,000.

While the upfront cost of developing a synthetic turf field is roughly twice that of a grass field, the higher upfront costs are balanced by:

• the lower annual labor and maintenance expenditures
• the need for fewer total fields to meet the Town’s athletic and recreational needs
• and increased availability and usage

Anticipated maintenance of the Loker Turf Field costs break down as follows:

• The current contract for the maintenance of the artificial turf playing surface at the High School ranges from $6,500- $8,000/year. Weston & Sampson has estimated $10,000-15,000/year for maintenance of a generic turf field.
• Other routine parks maintenance of natural areas, toilets, trash and recycling, and parking areas are estimated at $4,000. 

According to Weston & Sampson, Inc., newer generation turf fields have a lifespan of 10 years or more. Synthetic turf carpet replacement is estimated to be $900,000.   The Recreation Commission will propose that monies generated from the use of the artificial turf field will be accounted for separately from other fields and will be used to help defray the cost of replacing the carpet after its lifespan. This may be accomplished through an additional revolving fund or a stabilization fund.

The Recreation Director in conjunction with members of the Finance Committee produced a 20 year cost analysis ahead of the 2019 Annual Town Meeting that concluded it would cost the Town $9 million over a twenty (20) year period to own, operate and maintain two turf fields, and it would cost $29 million over the same twenty (20) year period to own, operate and maintain ten (10) grass fields. Both options would meet Wayland’s field needs/demand and alleviate the field deficit, but the turf option is more cost effective.

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