Politics & Government

First Legislation of 2014 for Legacy Playground

New legislation will be on the agenda for Tuesday's Board of Aldermen meeting.

First New Year's Resolution coming from the Board of Aldermen is R-14-001, for approval of the Legacy Playground at Greeley Park.

Alderman-At-Large Diane Sheehan has submitted the legislation, which is co-sponsored by six fellow aldermen, looking for approval of the playground at an alternate location at Greeley, behind the stone house. The location was discussed during a December Board of Public Works meeting which included a public hearing. That proposal was approved by the board, which means the process of final approval through the aldermen begins, Sheehan said.

[CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO OF THE PROPOSED SITE]

"There are a lot of people sponsoring this legislation, and there will be a lot of detail at this level yet to come, including a public hearing," Sheehan said.

Included with the initial legislation as written are some conditions, said Sheehan, "things to make it more comfortable" to those who have had objections to this point. 

Find out what's happening in Nashuawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The four conditions are:

  • That the location be on he west side of the park, behind the stone house at the end of the picnic area
  • That the size of the playground be limited to 12,000 or less.
  • That no mature, healthy trees shall be removed in the area of the installation of the playground
  • And that the old playground equipment shall be removed from its current location, and that area revert to passive recreation space.

Sheehan said she had not yet spoken directly to Ward 3 Alderman David Schoneman, but she is hopeful that he will be on board with the project as approved by Public Works.

Find out what's happening in Nashuawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I know initially he was not in favor of it, but I'm hoping in the interest of keeping some play equipment at the park without costing taxpayers the investment of new equipment, he will come to see the opportunity that this provides for Nashua, to value what's our gem of a park," Sheehan said.

Sheehan said her resolve to get this legislation going was bolstered by the huge outpouring of public comment in favor of the project during the Public Works meeting.

"That reinforced to me that we need it. We heard from specific people about the serious lack of accessible equipment. My initial feeling was we had to do this very carefully to preserve the integrity and character of the park, and I see this proposal as a way to do that, by turning more open space to passive recreation and consolidating the family area at the park, rather than having it scattershot all over the park. Having the playground near the cookout area and bathrooms, where families need access is, to me, a better use of the park, and being done in the right way," Sheehan said.

Co-sponsors of the bill include: At-Large Aldermen Lori Wilshire and Brian McCarthy; Aldermen June Caron, Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja, Richard Dowd and Pam Brown.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here