DAN CALL
SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Park and Recreation Commission is considering a request from the Board of Selectmen hold off on a $750,000 Community Preservation Act request
The Commission planned to use the funds to complete Phase II of Whalley Park.
The plan included additional lighting and a spray park, among other items.
Last week the Community Preservation Commission (CPC) made a presentation to the Board about a purchase of land on North Pond.
They asked to use nearly $4 million for the purchase in order to preserve the space in perpetuity.
Selectmen where concerned that both projects could not be funded, and because the land purchase must be made by 2016, Selectman Russell Fox said the CPC needed to set a priority.
“They called this a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Fox said at the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting last night.
Commission Daniel Call said the CPC request finishes Phase II and completes Whalley Park.
RUSSELL FOX
“So if these things get done, Whalley Park will be done?” said Selectmen Chairman Joseph Deedy.
Commissioner John Whalley and Call both said yes.
Fox and Deedy were both concerned with the addition of a spray park.
“The water park threw me off because you don’t even have enough people to mow,” said Deedy.
He and Fox were worried about maintenance of a spray park and the water bill.
Whalley said the cost of a spray park was “a drop in the bucket.”
“It’s about $100 a month,” Call said.
Call said that the spray park water would be on a timer that would be set off by children using the park. If no one is using it, the water does not turn on. The spray park would be shut off by 7 p.m., added Whalley.
JOSEPH J. DEEDY.
Fox and Deedy agreed a spray park would be a “wonderful” feature for the town, but not now.”
“You’ve only been open four months,” said Deedy. “I think it’s a wonderful idea, but to me, it’s a bit of a rush.”
Whalley said his stance is to complete the park.
“Let’s get it done and get it finished,” he said.
Fox said all the plans the Commission presented for CPC funds are good for the park.
“I think the whole thing is great, but I’m looking at the whole town,” said Fox. “We had a group of people come in about looking at a purchase of land on North Pond, but it’s a big chunk of change.”
The cost of the land is nearly $4 million. The Mass. Fisheries and Wildlife would offer $1 million to use part of the land as a bird sanctuary. There is also a $450,000 grant available. Fox said the $750,000 requested by the Commission would go a long way toward purchasing the land.
Fox suggested the Commission hold off on the CPC request for a year in order for the town to see if it could purchase the North Pond land.
Commissioners said they would take the Board’s request under consideration over the next few weeks.
