Town Meeting paves the way for Wareham Tigers’ plans at Westfield property

Apr 10, 2021

Town Meeting voters unanimously approved two articles related to the Westfield property off Charlotte Furnace Road in West Wareham.

The Wareham Tigers hope to join Wareham Youth Soccer and Wareham Girls Softball in operating their own sports complex and fields for games and practices on the Westfield property, located at 98 Charlotte Furnace Rd. in West Wareham.

Although a majority of voters left after the controversial “Hospitality, Recreation and Entertainment District” was defeated, those who remained quickly approved both articles with little discussion.

The first overrode a 2010 Town Meeting decision that designated some of the land for use for senior housing. The town tried to entice developers, but no one bit.

The second article authorized the Board of Selectmen to lease about 17 acres of the Westfield land for a term of up to 30 years — though it does not guarantee that the Wareham Tigers will win the lease as it must be offered through a bid process.

In a recent statement, the Tigers said their plans for the land include:

• Three full-size sports fields

• A cheer competition gymnasium

• A banquet hall, which will be available to the community 

• Offices

• A locker room 

• A concession stand

• A parking lot available to all programs utilizing the Westfield property

• Two full-size gymnasiums for indoor sports to use during the colder months

The plans detailed a project with three phases that would be completed in 10 years.

In November 2020, Jared Chadwick, the president of the Wareham Tigers Athletic Association, told Wareham Week that much of the land would be for the three sports fields: a main football field, a warm-up/practice field and one practice and flag football field that would be slightly smaller than a regular football field.

If they’re able to secure the land, the association’s next steps would be clearing the forest currently on the land, getting grass planted and beginning to fundraise, Chadwick said.

The new fields would ensure the program had the access to practice space athletes need, and could allow the Tigers to expand their program offerings to include youth lacrosse, which is not currently available in Wareham.