New Milford Residents To Answer 'Field Of Dreams' Question

After nearly a year of discussion and debate, voters will have the final say Tuesday on the proposed multi-use athletic field--dubbed the "Field of Dreams"-- which could cost up to $3 million to build at David E. Owens Middle School. This multi-purpose turf field would include a soccer, football and baseball field, in addition to two softball fields, and be a shared service between the borough and the New Milford Board of Education.

Approval of this non-binding referendum will give elected officials a better understanding for how the voters feel about the installation of a turf field at the David E. Owens Middle School. If the field is approved, the borough will incur an additional $3 million in debt which is estimated to increase property taxes by an additional $70 per year for 10 years on an average home assessed at $410,000.

Until the project is approved and officially goes out to bid, the costs are estimated based on current market trends and the auditor's report. Should the project go out to bid, the costs could be lower, officials said. Grants and possible corporate sponsorships are also being explored to reduce the costs.

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