THE DPW is looking to have Lynnfield High School’s new tennis courts completed by late September. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — It has been a busy summer for the Department of Public Works.
Director John Tomasz said in an interview with the Villager that the DPW has made improvements to athletic facilities at Lynnfield High School this summer. He said the biggest project entails constructing new tennis courts at LHS.
The tennis courts project is being financed by $200,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a $50,000 state grant and $68,000 in private funds that were raised by the Serving Lynnfield Committee. The majority of the funds raised by Serving Lynnfield occurred at the Craig Stone Gala in March in addition to a Pickleball Tournament that was held in October 2022.
Tomasz said the final paving for the five new LHS tennis courts will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 16.
“Once the final topcoat is done, we will start putting up fencing around the courts,” said Tomasz. “I have to let the topcoat sit for three weeks before we paint and line the courts.”
Tomasz said the new LHS tennis courts are going to have a three-court and two-court arrangement. He also recalled that the town received a $30,000 earmark in the fiscal year 2024 state budget that will be used to repair the adjacent outdoor basketball court.
“We are going to repaint the basketball court,” said Tomasz. “Everything is on target to be done by the end of September.”
School Committee member Jamie Hayman, who has been a driving force behind the LHS tennis courts project, is thrilled that the project is inching closer to completion.
“I am really excited about the progress we are making,” said Hayman. “I really appreciate the work that John Tomasz is doing to make sure we are getting this done. Most of all, I am excited for the LHS tennis teams and the broader community.”
Select Board member Phil Crawford agreed.
“It’s great that the high school is going to have five new beautiful courts this fall,” said Crawford.
While the LHS tennis courts project has been going smoothly, Tomasz said the DPW has hit speed bumps with the gymnasium resurfacing projects at the secondary schools. The fiscal year 2024 capital budget that was approved by Spring Town Meeting included $141,000 for resurfacing the gym courts at the secondary schools as well as replacing six basketball hoops at LHS.
Tomasz said the contractor was scheduled to start the LHS gym floor project on Monday, Aug. 14, but that got delayed. The project was slated to begin earlier this month.
“The contractor is supposed to start on Wednesday, Aug. 16,” said Tomasz. “If the contractor doesn’t start by Thursday, Aug. 17, we are going to have to postpone it because there is so much going on with the start of school.”
Tomasz said he doesn’t believe Lynnfield Middle School’s gym floor will be refinished by the start of the academic year on Wednesday, Aug. 31. Both gym floors were scheduled to be refinished by the end of August.
Additionally, Tomasz was also informed that the new basketball hoops for LHS will not be delivered this summer.
“The manufacturer for the basketball hoops is months behind schedule,” said Tomasz. “I am hoping the new hoops will be delivered in October.”
Outside of the LHS tennis courts project, Tomasz said the DPW has also made upgrades to the high school’s Pioneer Stadium.
“We have replaced portions of the fence that needed to be replaced because it got beat up,” said Tomasz. “We also put 120-feet of padding down by the amenities building to protect the fence.”
Select Board Chairman Joe Connell said the Pioneer Stadium improvements were “long overdue.”
“I gain more respect for John Tomasz on a daily basis,” said Connell. “He promised me that the DPW would have this project done before the football season starts. The fence has been replaced and new padding has been installed. It looks great.”
Tomasz also said the DPW overhauled the amenities building’s storage rooms by turning them into locker rooms for visiting athletic teams.
Crawford said Tomasz is “doing a fantastic job managing all of the athletic facility projects.”
In addition to the various athletic facility improvements that have taken place, Tomasz said the DPW’s road construction program is in full swing this summer.
“That has been going well,” said Tomasz.