A citizens group that raised money to fund the building of the Bordick Park baseball facility in Hampden has received concept approval from the SAD 22 board to begin fund raising and to attain engineering services to research a multipurpose synthetic field.

The field could accommodate the Hampden school district’s football, soccer, field hockey, and softball teams.

The Citizens for Quality Education, a group made up of parents, citizens and businesses in Hampden, Newburgh and Winterport, was formed when concern began to grow in the area about the school’s athletic facilities.

Herb Sargent, of Sargent and Sargent, a Hampden-based contracting company, is also CQE’s board chairman. He said the project could cost up to $800,000, but that a “half-dozen people” have already made “generous” pledges.

“We’re going to meet in about two weeks to decide whether we’re going forward with it this year,” Sargent said.

Sargent said the synthetic surface would be similar to the FieldTurf used on the Winkin Complex at Husson College in Bangor. FieldTurf has the appearance of grass but has a much more consistent texture. The turf can also withstand as much as 32 inches of rain in an hour.

Emil Genest, SAD 22’s assistant superintendent, said the field would be built on the “thumbprint” of the current football field.

“It would include parking and infrastructure for seating at the field,” Genest said.

The final steps before construction could begin would be for the school board to give its approval on the final design.

“This is not taxpayer money,” Genest said. “We have to maintain [the facility]. But that’s a good problem.”

Currently, the softball field and Bordick Park are side-by-side. Fans attending baseball games must be on guard for balls fouled over the softball field’s backstop.

“That’s one thing we’d like to alleviate,” Sargent said. “There are a couple of concept drawings that show the complete softball field on the field.”

CQE was formed in the spring of 2002. Its first order of business was to begin work on Bordick Park.

The group raised money and businesses offered the use of heavy equipment and donated underground piping. Trucks were loaned for hauling materials.

The end result was a $300,000 facility that is second to none among high school baseball parks in the state.

CQE has also earmarked $35,000 for computer hardware, software, and infrastructure for the school system.

Mandatory golf clinics

The Maine Principals’ Association has scheduled mandatory clinics for golf coaches at five locations around the state.

Clinics will be held May 27 at at Natanis Golf Club in Vassalboro, June 3 at Spring Meadows Golf Club in Gray, June 25 at Houlton Country Club, June 26 at Island Green Golf Club in Holden, and July 16 at the Golf Learning Center and Practice Park in Cumberland.

All sessions begin at 6 p.m.

Don Perryman can be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or dperryman@bangordailynews.net