PORTSMOUTH — The property was first purchased by the town in 2004 and was pitched as an ideal spot for two sports fields when voters approved a recreational bond in 2007.

Now 18 years have gone by, and the overgrown field on the south side of Sandy Point Avenue still sits there, waiting for something to happen.

The inaction on the so-called “3S property” was a talking point for David Gleason when he ran for reelection to the Town Council last fall. At the April 14 council meeting, the council vice-president convinced his colleagues to finally take action on transforming those tall weeds into two lined fields of green.

“We can thank our Conservation Commission for getting us to purchase this back in 2004,” said Gleason. “In 2007 we told the general public on a rec bond that we were going to do various things in town — one of which was to put two sports fields on the property, which we have not been able to do so far.”

Gleason was referring to the $4 million Open Space and Recreational Development Bond that voters approved in November 2007. The town’s troubled wind turbine at Portsmouth High School, which is now operated by a private entity, was also part of that bond.

Gleason acknowledged there’s a considerable amount of work that needs to be done on the property. He proposed that the Department of Public Works (DPW) clear the property and lay out the locations of the roadway, fields and parking lot. East Coast Construction could also be involved in some of the work, as well as a potential source of clean fill and gravel.

The town could also potentially work with the Portsmouth Water and Fire District on trenching work and the installation of a water line to a bathroom building, he said. There’s also the possibility of a partnership with Newport International Polo, which has specialized equipment and expertise in clearing land to establish and maintain playing fields, he said.

The Aquidneck Land Trust has posed certain covenants on the property, one of them being that no work can take place between May 1 and Aug. 1 during bird nesting season, Gleason said. In addition, a vegetative buffer must be installed around the area of the proposed gravel parking lot before it’s built, he said.

What about funding?

DPW Director Brian Woodhead asked about funding for the project.

“Things cost money,” he said. “You can’t just put a roadway in; you have to put the utilities in before you put the roadway in. You have to clear the field.”

Establishing two soccer fields and a parking lot is a big project, Woodhead said. “There’s other things on our plate that we should probably take care of,” he said.

Gleason suggested the town could seek charitable donations and grants for some of the work, and encourage Portsmouth Youth Soccer and local lacrosse groups — the intended beneficiaries of the fields — to hold fund-raisers.

“I get it; you need a number to work with and it’s a big number,” he told Woodhead.

Council member Juan Carlos Payero said he agreed the fields should be built, but the town needs a timeline and a better vision for the job. “It would be best if we direct the town to develop a strategic plan including funding and all the things that we need, to present to the council at a later date,” Payero said.

“I agree,” Gleason responded. “Let’s get the ball rolling. We do need a plan.”

The council voted unanimously to direct town staff to work with the council, various town-related athletic groups, local charitable organizations “and any other means available” to build two sports fields at the 3S property. Gleason requested the plan be developed by May 31, and that any ideas from Portsmouth citizens are welcome.

Council President Keith Hamilton said the project may seem daunting, but it could be tackled by breaking it down into more manageable steps.

“This is kind of how you eat an elephant — one bite at a time,” he said.