ACTION! 
Before the Town Council builds a synthetic turf field on Kycia,
SIGN the PETITION: COMMUNITY 1st, KEEP KYCIA OPEN!

On 4/3/23, the Wethersfield Town Council approved $1.5 million of ARPA funds for ONE synthetic turf field with preference to place it on Kycia Farm.

• Town Council majority approved 19.48% of the town ARPA funds for ONE turf field for less than 17% of the population (based on school age children not all of whom play sports). However, Seniors make up 20.2% of the town's population and in general, were disproportionately impacted by COVID, but ARPA funding was not directed to them.
• Town council majority prefers to build the turf field on Kycia Farm, despite confirmation by the town of ample field space at Mill Woods. The existing Mill Woods Master plan has laid the groundwork, the space and the infrastructure to support the future development for active and passive recreation at Mill Woods.
• Kycia farm is the last remaining undeveloped upland property of farmland, wetland, and woodland in town. It has a rich farming history, rich farm soil, wetlands and is part of continuous greenland migration corridor, serving as a wildlife habitat refuge that runs from near Crest Street to and through the Highcrest School tract.
• Kycia Farm is surrounded closely by several residential lots, an elementary school and streets already overburdened with unsafe traffic and parking issues. 
• The public voted yes to purchase Kycia Farm for "recreational, open space and other municipal purposes."
• 77% of the town survey respondents want multiple use of Kycia.
• 71% of survey respondents want everything else besides sports fields (Walking Trails, Agriculture, Open Space, Education).
• The town council majority decided to spend $1.5 million on ONE synthetic field on Kycia, with no consideration for the overall needs and wants that the community had expressed.
• The council majority has no plan. There is no Master Plan for the turf field on Kycia property, and there are no impact studies for the drastically different use of the farm land. Also, there are no set plans for the new Highcrest School and its associated fields which could influence field solution choices for the town. The council majority has not thought any of this through. There has been no schematic, layout, feasibility or impact planning for such a drastically different use of the land that has a significant impact to the area.

COMMUNITY 1st, KEEP KYCIA OPEN for:

• Space for natural Walking Trails, Agriculture, Open Space, Education
• Safety of wildlife, wetlands, soil, safe passive recreation. (Avoid harmful impacts of synthetic turf on young athletes, higher degree of injuries, growing concerns of turf chemicals and impact on athlete health).
• Quality of Life for the community that value and want Walking Trails, Agriculture, Open Space, Education. A vibrant and inclusive community space for our town, the community and the neighbors. 
• Fiscal Responsibility - Placing fields on Mill Woods Fields makes use of the existing road, infrastructure, 50 car parking lots, bathrooms, lighting, utilities etc. already in exsitence and would not have to be duplicated. Using Kycia as community space, open space, passive recreation is low cost with grant eligible opportunities for walking trails, CSA Farm community supported agriculture.

IMPORTANT ACTION: 
Before the Town Council builds a synthetic turf field on Kycia, 
SIGN the PETITION: COMMUNITY 1st, KEEP KYCIA OPEN!