13 Comments

1. 

   Ted Hess-Mahan on August 26, 2014 at 4:30 pm

   The following letter went out in June to abutters:

   To the Neighbors of Weeks Park:

   As abutters to one of Newton’s athletic fields, we want you to know in advance that the Newton Parks and Recreation Department will be applying an herbicide to a portion of Weeks Park on June 25, 2014 (rain date June 26, 2014). The affected area consists of approximately 4 acres of the 8 total acres.

   The City of Newton has worked hard to limit and avoid whenever possible the use of pesticides on any city property through its comprehensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. There are times, however, when we don’t have a choice. Our fields undergo heavy use, which leads to soil compaction and wear areas. That, in turn, leads to weed growth. By acting now, we expect to create an environment in which athletic turf can again prevail in these small areas. We will combine this application with aeration, slice-seeding, fertilization, irrigation and other steps to keep the turf as healthy as possible.

   The area will be treated with Drive XLR8 Postemergent Herbicide and Speedzone Southern Postemergent Herbicide. Both post-emergent herbicides are used for grassy and broadleaf weed control. This is the least toxic, most appropriate product for reducing the heavy infestation of crabgrass, prostrate knotweed and white clover on this field. These weeds have become established and continue to spread, competing with the desired turfgrass plants for available water, nutrients, space and sunlight, thinning the desirable turf cover and creating potentially unsafe conditions for users.

   To help us make decisions about when to allow use of pesticides, the Parks and Recreation Department has worked closely with the city’s Integrated Pest Management Advisory Committee to identify specific pest thresholds for various weeds at each of our athletic fields. When the Parks and Recreation Department observes weeds growing beyond the agreed upon threshold, our formal plan for weed removal is put into place. At Weeks Park, our plan involves applying pesticides during summer school vacation, notifying abutters and field users, posting information at field entry points at least 48 hours in advance and fencing off the treated areas for 72 hours in an effort to protect everyone from exposure.

   Robert DeRubeis

   Robert DeRubeis, Commissioner

   We welcome your questions or comments:

   Parks and Recreation Department: Derek G. Mannion, Assistant Superintendent of Maintenance, [email protected], 617-796-1500

   Health Department: Linda Walsh, [email protected], 617-796-1420

   • 

     Greg Reibman on August 26, 2014 at 5:05 pm

     Thanks Aldermen Hess-Mahan for the quick response.

     One question for you — or somebody — the letter said the treatment was happening on June 25. Was it delayed? Surely the field hasn’t been closed all summer?

2. 

   Stu on August 26, 2014 at 5:26 pm

   That letter is about applying chemicals that were never applied. Current question is unrelated.

3. 

   Robert J DeRubeis on August 26, 2014 at 6:58 pm

   Clarification on Weeks Field: As part of the Turf Maintenance initiative that was undertaken this past spring, Parks & Recreation has slated two fields for renovation this fall. Warren House and the Hereward Rd. side of Weeks Field.

   The renovation consists of loosening the soil through deep tine aeration and vertiquaking which allows nutrients to percolate deeper into the soil. We will also top dress low, bare areas with additional soil and slice seed the field which allows for a stronger stand of grass. One of the key components to our turf plan is allowing the field to rest so that the grass has an opportunity to take hold. We have worked with the leagues on this plan and developed a strategy to reassign them to alternative fields during the fall season.

   The signs that have been placed at Weeks and other sites under renovation is to prohibit athletic and other heavy organized usage during the renovation period. The fencing at the site has been configured in such a way as to dissuade game usage, however, still allowing passage for people to traverse the area. That being said, we would ask that people try to avoid the area when possible to allow the new grass to germinate and take hold through the fall.

   The Paul St. side of the field is still open for all activities. We appreciate your patience and understanding and feel confident that you will be happy with the results next spring.

   In response to the herbicide question, there were no herbicides applied at Weeks Field.

   Robert J. DeRubeis, Commissioner
   Parks & Recreation

   • 

     Greg Reibman on August 26, 2014 at 9:03 pm

     Commissioner DeRubeis: Thanks for taking the time to respond here.

4. 

   Paul Levy on August 26, 2014 at 7:21 pm

   Stu is right. And neighbors who call the city are unable to get answers. This one shouldn’t be that hard to clarify.

5. 

   Hoss on August 26, 2014 at 8:14 pm

   From a technology standpoint, and Newton’s open gov’t standpoint, where an alderman or resident finds a letter on the Newton website servers and there is a change to the conversation, anyone in Newton should be able to enter terms like “Weeks Park” or “Weeks Field” on the Newton site and see the entire thread of discussion/progress. Is this kind of thing that the private sector is used to available to Newton’s website?

6. 

   Paul Levy on August 26, 2014 at 9:52 pm

   Adding my thanks. A great explanation.

7. 

   Ted Hess-Mahan on August 27, 2014 at 10:36 am

   Thanks, Bob. Sorry I goofed, everyone. I sat down with Bob DeRubeis and some other folks last month to talk about IPM and turf maintenance at some of the city fields and I got mixed up about which fields were actually treated. I, too, appreciate the clarification from someone who knows what he is talking about.

8. 

   Patrick on August 27, 2014 at 12:38 pm

   THM, David Fleishman can learn a lot from you. If his initial statement had been a similar simple statement with the same level of acknowledging his mistake regarding his plagiarism incident, the summer would have been a lot easier for him and the SC. It would not have been as exciting for Greg and the bloggers; however DF’s reputation would still be intact. Next Wednesday he gets to address the teachers. Perhaps you should offer him a personal coaching session on honest and effective communication.

   I do not agree with some of your positions on local issues. However I do respect your willingness to take an educated and passionate position, communicate it to the community, and enter into dialogue with people holding a differing position.

9. 

   Ted Hess-Mahan on August 27, 2014 at 1:13 pm

   Thank you for your very kind words, Patrick. I would add only that I emailed Bob DeRubeis for some clarification about Weeks Field being closed and he got back to me quickly with the skinny. Bob is one of the most responsive, hard working and effective department heads it has ever been my pleasure to work with here in Newton. We are very lucky to have him and the rest of the Parks & Recreation staff.

10. 

    Kim on August 28, 2014 at 2:03 am

    Having grown up playing sports in Braintree and then coached girls soccer in Newton for 14 years, I’m so impressed with our field conditions here in Newton. I’ve coached travel teams and though some towns may have equally good fields, no one has better and most have worse.

    Whatever we are doing here is working.

11. 

    Amanda Heller on August 29, 2014 at 10:35 pm

    While people are solving mysteries, does anyone happen to know the reason for the police tape surrounding the ceramic standing collages at the corner of Centre St. and Langley Rd.? We got back from three weeks out of the country at the end of June and were surprised to see it since we were unaware of any problem. Now it’s nearly September and the tape is still there with no activity I’ve noticed to repair, replace, or do whatever else the tape might indicate is called for.