Falmouth's John L. Neill Baseball Fields Will Remain Closed

FALMOUTH, MA — Falmouth officials are moving forward cautiously when planning for the John L. Neill Youth Baseball Complex fields.

Despite a recent assessment stating that two fields were safe for play, town officials announced at a recent Select Board meeting that all three would remain closed.

A risk assessment report conducted on the now-closed John L. Neill Youth Baseball Complex fields in Falmouth found enough lead in the topsoil of one field to pose "an unacceptable risk to young children if repeated contact with soil beneath the existing turf was allowed."

However, the assessment stated that, although lead was found in the soil samples for fields one and two, play could have started again on those two fields with recommended topsoil testing before the season starts in the spring and again periodically during the season.

Town Manager Michael Renshaw said he believed conducting remediation on one field while allowing play on two others could be "problematic."

In the meantime, Renshaw said three other locals fields could be brought up to acceptable conditions for play so the youth baseball season can still be played on time.

Those fields are at Morse Pond, the Lawrence School and a junior varsity field at Falmouth High School.

The undertaking at the closed fields will be hefty, however, and play may not return to the site for two years.

Public Works Director Peter McConarty said the complex will need to be raised, and funds for the project could come from community preservation. Discussions for additional funding with the Community Preservation Committee are already underway, officials said.

• Read more: 'Unacceptable' Lead Levels Found At 1 Of 3 Closed Cape Cod Ballfields