Frequently Asked Questions

The nonprofit Wayland Community Sports Center (WCSC) seeks to support the Wayland community’s diverse recreational needs by leveraging private donations to build and operate a dynamic, multigenerational indoor sports and community facility at the vacant site of the former Wayland DPW (195 Main St).

Everyone! Our vision for WCSC features something for all Waylanders:

• Seniors enjoying the elevated walking track and indoor pickleball
• Athletes of all ages staying active on up to six dynamic courts with reversible turf and hardwood surfaces for different sports 
• Students diving into a variety of recreational programming outside of school hours

Name it! 

If you can play the sport or activity on hardwood courts or indoor turf, you can play that sport or activity at WCSC. Basketball, yoga, pilates, pickleball, lacrosse, baseball and softball practices, flag football, floor hockey, dance and movement, and so much more. 

The real question is, what would you want to play at WCSC? Imagine the possibilities, right here in our hometown!

Your neighbors! 

A group of Wayland residents organized this WCSC effort to help make our community even stronger by working to create a nonprofit home for multigenerational sports and recreation. We're townies, parents, and future retirees who love living in Wayland want to help make life here even better for everyone.

Check out our Team page for a list of our volunteer leaders.

Wayland Community Sports Center (WCSC) seeks to support the Wayland community’s diverse recreational needs by leveraging private donations to build and operate a nonprofit, multigenerational indoor sports and community facility at the vacant site of the former Wayland DPW.

If the Town opens up a competitive public procurement process, the WCSC team would seek a long-term lease that allows the nonprofit to build and operate the facility while the town maintains ownership of the public land.

Our goal is to privately raise capital to fund construction, use operational revenue to pay off our debt, and become self-sustaining. Once the WCSC's debt is paid down, we seek to take a portion of the revenue generated thereafter and donate it to the Town. 

The first big step comes on Monday, April 7th at Wayland Town Meeting (OR, Tuesday, April 8th if Town Meeting extends to two nights).

Wayland's Select Board will present a non-binding resolution that voices support for exploring new recreational uses for the vacant lot at 195 Main St.

The resolution provides Waylanders the opportunity to state clearly that we're open to this idea. 

Wayland High School athletes are generously providing free childcare at Town Meeting, so let's have a great turnout!

The first big step comes on Monday, April 7th at Wayland Town Meeting (OR, Tuesday, April 8th if Town Meeting extends to two nights).

Wayland's Select Board will present a non-binding resolution that voices support for exploring new recreational uses for the vacant lot at 195 Main St.

If this resolution passes, the Town would then engage in a competitive public procurement process, ideally over the following year that would consider a long-term lease of that public property. 

Keep in mind, this resolution does not lock anyone into anything. If the bids do not satisfy the Town's requirements, there would be no obligation to move forward with WCSC or any other bidder's vision. 

If WCSC's eventual proposal does satisfy Town requirements and win the competitive bid process, Wayland residents would still deservedly have final say at a series of votes at a future Town Meeting, hopefully in 2026.

We envision the WCSC as a nonprofit asset that contributes to life in Wayland for generations to come. That means any facility must be financially sustainable. 

Leaning on best practices and lessons learned by both nonprofit and for-profit sports and recreation facilities throughout Massachusetts, the WCSC team continues to develop financial plans for raising capital and responsibly operating a future facility in support of our WCSC mission. If and when the Town opens up a competitive public procurement process, the WCSC team will submit specific financial information for public consideration.

Overall, our goal is to privately raise capital to fund construction, use operational revenue to pay off our debt, and become self-sustaining. Once the WCSC's debt is paid down, we seek to take a portion of the revenue generated thereafter and donate it to the Town. Revenue sharing details would be developed and negotiated during the procurement and contracting process to best protect the Town's interests.

Part of our commitment to WCSC's financial sustainability is knowing when to lean on our volunteers and knowing when to hire the experts. 

WCSC envisions hiring a third party that specializes in facility management to run the building's day-to-day operations and scheduling, in accordance with the nonprofit board's oversight and the mission to prioritize the needs of the Wayland community.

For example, a nonprofit sports and recreation facility in Winchester partnered with Acton Teamworks for operational, programming, and facility management support. The WCSC team has spoken with Acton Teamworks, Edge Sports Group, and others about our vision for Wayland and their potential interest in third-party management. 

No. Our goal is to privately raise all capital and operational funding for the nonprofit WCSC. 

Separate from our effort, the Select Board has independently decided to conduct needed environmental cleanup activities at the 195 Main St. site. The Town, and therefore Wayland taxpayers, would incur these costs regardless of what is or isn't built on that location.

The nonprofit status of WCSC means that the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards (DLS) prevailing wage program does not apply. 

The WCSC team is committed to building and operating an environmentally friendly facility. 

After all, we're your neighbors and we care deeply about carefully and responsibly navigating any and all environmental questions that arise. We commit to a collaborative approach -- anchored in the legally required environmental studies -- to respecting wetland buffer zones, understanding implications of storm runoff into the Dudley Pond marsh, and the environmental consequences of cleaning up the property's former burn site. 

Separate from our effort, the Select Board has independently decided to conduct needed environmental cleanup activities at the 195 Main St. site, taking a leadership role in the environmental effort. The Conservation Commission and Planning Board will also play key roles in ensuring positive outcomes for our community's environment.

Recently, the Select Board moved ahead with a traffic study to start finding out. As we understand it, this data will be released in the near future. 

Even before the DPW vacated the site at 195 Main St., traffic in and out of Wayland Middle School was not ideal. We're optimistic that the traffic study's insights into specific issues will help the Select Board and any future plan for the site navigate traffic congestion as best as possible. 

As a community sports and recreation center, our mission is focused on supporting our community. That means our goal at WCSC is to be good neighbors and partners with Wayland Public Schools, working closely with Wayland Middle School to plan and adjust WCSC scheduling around school events.

While the asphalt at 195 Main St. has been used to line up WMS overflow traffic during school dropoff and pickup in recent years, that was not the case for several decades leading up the DPW leaving the site vacant. We're optimistic that a new, productive pickup pattern can be developed by working in partnership with the Town and Wayland Public Schools during the public procurement process, especially once the Select Board's traffic study results are determined and released.

WCSC seeks to minimize our environmental footprint.

Unfortunately, when we looked into the Loker Conservation Area, the Greenways, and the site near Alta Oxbow, we found that those would all result in greater environmental impacts. By building WCSC at the 195 Main St. location, we will be able to avoid heavy tree removal, respect archeological and historical remains, protect the Sudbury River, and maintain valued conservation areas.

As for the Route 20 Old South Landfill site, this larger space would best suit the town's need for multiple, full-size fields, rather than the indoor facility we seek to build with the smaller footprint.

The site at 195 Main St. is not large enough for a full-size, 11v11 soccer field. 

The WCSC with its indoor turf fields and hardwood courts would serve the recreational needs of approximately four times more people than the single 7v7 soccer field that would fit in the lot.

Town lands are vital and valuable community assets. As Wayland residents, we firmly believe the land should be used for the betterment of our community. Our nonprofit model seeks to deliver on that promise. 

A developer could potentially build about eight single-family homes on the 195 Main St. lot. In exchange for a one-time injection of cash, Wayland would lose ownership of land at the entrance to Wayland Middle School and in the heart of Cochituate. 

Additionally, the sale of town property to a private developer would require a 2/3 majority vote at Wayland Town Meeting, an unlikely outcome.

The Town's capital plan does not include funds or prospective plans for 195 Main St. 

The residents behind WCSC see this nonprofit plan as the most promising way to serve the needs of our community, while protecting taxpayers by privately funding the facility on town land.

At Town Meeting on April 7th, the Select Board is offering a non-binding resolution to gauge residents' support of a recreational facility at 195 Main St. A positive outcome would allow WCSC, and any other interested parties, to continue developing plans ahead of a competitive public procurement process.

Any zoning changes potentially needed to support WCSC or another use would be identified and brought back for residents' consideration at a future Town Meeting. These would require a 2/3 majority vote.

The nonprofit Wayland Community Sports Center (WCSC) seeks to support the Wayland community’s diverse recreational needs by leveraging private donations to build and operate a dynamic, multigenerational indoor sports and community facility at the vacant site of the former Wayland DPW (195 Main St).

WCSC envisions partnering with the Recreation Department, Wayland Public Schools, and other groups to host a wide array of activities in our welcoming, indoor space. This could include before- and after-school care, day-time complimentary Recreation Department programming, and more.

The team of Wayland residents organizing the WCSC effort bring forward a wide array of planning and operational expertise. The group is volunteering its time and services with the goal of reducing the burden on Town personnel. Meanwhile, our nonprofit approach -- centered on raising private capital to fund construction on leased public land -- ensures respect for Town and taxpayer financial resources.

Thank you! From organizing fundraising events to helping spread the word, the volunteer-run WCSC welcomes you.

Please click here or the ""Volunteer"" button at the top of the page to reach out and introduce yourself. 

Thank you! Please click here or the ""Donate"" button at the top of the page to make a financial donation to WCSC.

If the project does not move forward, all donations will be distributed to Wayland's nonprofit youth sports organizations.

Yes! 

While WCSC works to formalize our 501c3 status, Wayland Youth Basketball Association has kindly offered to receive our donations under its tax-deductible, 501c3 designation. The funds will later be transferred from WYBA to WCSC.