MERIDEN - A group of advocates for Falcon Field has proposed putting the $4 million facility under the management of volunteers to save the city money and provide additional revenue to field users.

Since it was opened last fall, the synthetic-turf field has been under the day-to-day management of the Parks and Recreation Department, which assigns employees to the field during events. Parks workers help open and close the field, turn the lights on and activate the scoreboard. It costs the department $800 to $1,000 to provide staff at a sporting event, said John Garlock, vice chairman of Friends of Falcon. Parks and Recreation Department officials could not be reached Friday to verify the figure.

But Friends of Falcon, a community group, has offered to have volunteers take on those duties, at one-third of what it costs the parks department. In return, the group is suggesting, the city would provide $200 to the athletic director and $100 to the booster club associated with the sporting event.

The system would save taxpayer money while providing a steady source of income for sports programs, which often face tight budgets, Garlock said.

"It's quite a large savings to the city, but it's also money going back," he said.

Mayor Michael S. Rohde, who met with the group recently, said it seems like a positive idea, since the group has proven itself to be reliable.

"I found them to be very responsive, very proactive and very responsible," he said.

City Manager Lawrence J. Kendzior is reviewing the proposal. Friends of Falcon has proposed having parents and other people associated with the teams volunteer at the field, because the Friends group only has about 15 members. The group would provide a checklist identifying what needs to be done and would oversee the volunteer work.

Friends of Falcon Chairman James Frederick Jr. said the concept will be especially helpful to the city this year, given how difficult municipal finances are.

"There's an awful lot of people in this city who have big hearts and are willing to go a little bit extra to ease the crunch we're in now," he said.

Lenny Rich, treasurer of Friends of Falcon, said athletic directors would benefit tremendously from receiving $200 per game at Falcon Field. The arrangement would provide a stable revenue stream that would allow them to plan, he said.

Garlock said the money would also make it feasible to hold soccer games at Falcon. Right now, it is not cost effective because athletic directors have to pay $100 for a bus to get the soccer players to the field. The $200 would more than offset that cost.

City Councilor David Salafia, head of the parks and recreation committee, said he is confident the group would do a good job, since it has shown tireless interest in the field.

"When you take a volunteer group that is very committed, who want to help the city and alleviate some of the burden to the city, it seems like a good idea," Salafia said, "and it's not unprecedented because the little leagues do it."

The Jack Barry and Ed Walsh Little Leagues run their own field facilities in Meriden.

Friends of Falcon members said the Parks and Recreation Department would still perform major maintenance work, such as trimming brush around the field.

gmoore@record-journal.com

(203) 317-2275