Nantucket Parks Commission Approves Four Summer Events, Warns of Turf-Ban Risk

NANTUCKET — March 19, 2026 — Nantucket Parks Commission unanimously approved four summer events and heard a staff warning that a potential Board of Health synthetic turf ban could affect future field projects. The commission, chaired by Nikki, approved a Daffodil Weekend 50th anniversary children's beach program by the Chamber of Commerce for April 25, a traveling circus and gala by the Mariah Mitchell Association at Tom Nevers Field from July 20 to 27 with up to 500 attendees per show, a Nantucket Historical Association Community Day at Children's Beach on August 5, and yoga instructor Bettina Brauer's return to the bandstand for what staff estimated is her 27th consecutive summer season. Parks Director Charlie reported that bids for the Nobody Orr Fields project came back above the available appropriation, forcing a redesign and rebid, though playground equipment has already arrived on site. Charlie also said ground-penetrating radar completed over the Tom Nevers Phase 2 area is expected to bring the original $8 million project estimate "down quite a bit" before a town meeting funding request. On synthetic turf, Charlie warned that while the commission's existing field would likely be grandfathered under any ban, the ability to install new turf at Nobody Orr could be lost, calling the current field "really valuable" and "the field that everyone is on."