DHS Boosters Fighting to Keep Concession Stand Alive for Athletic Complex Project

Concerned members of the Dedham Boosters and Alumni and Friends spoke at the School Rehabilitation Committee meeting Tuesday night regarding the construction of a full concession stand, which was voted as an alternate part of the .

After hearing testimonies from several audience members regarding the importance of the concession stand, it was voted that it would be a top priority when it came to the list of five alternates.

The other alternatives, in order of priority, are new fencing along Whiting Avenue, adding 200 bleacher seats back into the plan, adding a seat wall for the flag pole on site and landscaping of trees and shrubs.

It was noted that it would cost $46,000 to have a complete concession stand with walls, working sinks and bathrooms. Members of the Dedham Boosters and Alumni and Friends were at the meeting lobbying for the committee to consider putting the concession stand as a number one priority in the alternatives.

Bob Crisp spoke for the boosters and said that the organization has donated more than $1 million over the course of the last four years. He said that they have supplied equipment for athletes and have had two concession stands up to now. While he said that he knows the plan did not include a concession stand, he felt that in order for the organization to continue helping the community, it would need a viable place to sell goods.

“I don’t feel we can generate that type of revenue with just folding tables and a canopy,” said Crisp. “We need an enclosed concession stand to operate out of.”

Other audience members representing the boosters said that they have had to cut scholarship amounts this year, and something like this could be detrimental to scholarships in a whole. Kevin Hampe said that for what appears to be such a beautiful project in the making, he felt slighted that there would be no effort to include a decent concession stand.

“I support the idea of adding the concession stand as the first alternative,” said Hampe. “Otherwise you will look like a second class operation.”

Committee member Tom Ryan thanked the members who spoke and explained that last year there was a proposal to have a new concessions stand which was shot down by the Finance Committee. He said that the intention this time around was to present a plan that was a bit smaller so it could get underway.

Committee chairman Andrew Lawlor said that he could not name harder working people for the town of Dedham than some who spoke that evening. However, he said that a concession stand was not on the top of his priority list because he did not feel it was the most critical aspect at that time, due to substance and process. Instead, he felt that a new fence was the top priority.

“We are trying to do a first-rate job under a limited budget,” said Lawlor. “The lens in which people are going to look through this field is through that hideous looking chain link fence.”

However, committee member Derek Moulton said that he didn’t feel that the money to build a fence could be raised without a concession stand and said that it was at the top of his list.

It was eventually voted in by the committee as the No. 1 priority.