Pine Banks Track: Grass Instead of Turf?

You Ask, Patch Answers is a weekly column for Melrosians who have questions about something they've spotted around the city or wondered about. Submit your question to danield@patch.com.

In a follow-up to last week's "You Ask, Patch Answers" about at , Michelle asked whether it's true the infield of the track will be natural grass, instead of artificial turf as originally planned.

Melrose City Planner Denise Gaffey confirmed that the rectangular field inside the track will have natural grass and not synthetic turf, due to the Pine Banks Trustees determining that synthetic turf would be too costly and in excess of the project budget.

The synthetic field would cost approximately $700,000 on the low end, according to Gaffey's records. By comparison, natural grass plus irrigation—which will be included in the project—would cost about $150,000-170,000.

"This decision was made by the Pine Banks Trustees back in May of 2011 upon review of the budget prior to bidding," Gaffey said in an email. "It is common in large construction projects like this that certain elements are value engineered out of the project in order to ensure that bids come in within the budgeted amount."

Gaffey added that the Pine Banks Trustees took into consideration that Malden and Melrose would have an opportunity in the future  to pursue another Parks Grant from the state to convert the grass field to synthetic turf.

The state previously that city officials were counting on as part of the plans to build two new athletic fields at the park.

Officials previously pegged the , which includes the now-open softball complex, at approximately $3.5 million, with Melrose and Malden each paying $1.5 million, in addition to the $500,000 state grant.

If you've got a question about something in Melrose, send it to danield@patch.com. We'll choose one question each week and get to work on digging up an answer.