Politics & Government
Turf War: Infrastructure Becomes Pop-Up Playground Meeting
After some public comment, Chamber President Christopher Williams spoke on behalf of the group looking to build a playground in a city park.
Wednesday night's Infrastructure Committee Meeting turned into a pop-up hearing on the proposed Legacy Playground, after several members of the public came out based on an agenda item: the formal acceptance of a 50-page document submitted to the committee by Alderman David Deane, who received it from Imelda Murphy, a resident who felt the history of the park was relevant to the discussion over future development.
However, before the meeting officially got underway, the public comment period was stacked with testimony on both sides of a proposed playground that is quickly turning into a turf war centered at Greeley Park.
And everybody had their say.
As for the document, Alderman Deane had initially brought it to the Board of Aldermen after it was sent to him by Murphy. Deane characterized it as full of important history during the October 22 Board of Aldermen meeting, and asked that it be directed to the Infrastructure Committee, which is how it got on the Nov. 13 agenda, for consideration.
If and when a formal proposal for the playground goes forward, it will be up to the Board of Alderman to approve it before it can be built, under the provisions of the city charter.
When Murphy put together "A Brief History of Greeley Park," she said she was motivated by the urge to settle in her mind – and perhaps for the public – some discrepancies over reported acreage of the park.
Writes Murphy in the document, [uploaded with this story in full] "Out of the 165 acres of land left to the City of Nashua, I have accounted for 125.14 acres."
Her research was also an effort to reinforce the spirit of Joseph Thornton Greeley's gift of open space to the city which, for some people, is in direct conflict to the playground proposal.
Although Infrastructure Committee Chair Mark Cookson said he would welcome all public comment, he also pointed out that there was no scheduled action being taken on the playground during the Nov. 13 meeting, primarily because no legislation has been brought forward by the Board of Aldermen, which is required for any alteration to Greeley Park.
Cookson said that he understood a public meeting was in the works, possibly for Dec. 2.
Several people chose to speak during the public comment segment of the Infrastructure meeting, including Board of Public Works member Tracy Pappas; resident Pat Clancy; Dan Richardson, all in opposition; and two members of Leadership Greater Nashua, Eric Brand and Brian Hebert, who are also part of the playground initiative.
Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce President Christopher Williams was the final person to address the board, with unprepared remarks he said were prompted by some of the previous remarks.
"I realize tonight is not a hearing on the Legacy Playground site, so I'm reserving comments on the merits of the playground when it's having its due diligence," Williams said. "But what triggered my comments here tonight are comments made by a public official, villainizing those who are behind a good and well-intentioned project."
Williams went on to explain how for the past 18 years the Chamber has organized the Leadership Greater Nashua program to see that the city has a "succession plan" to nurture those who will continue to care for the city.
Find out what's happening in Nashuawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Each group is tasked with coming up with a project to "give back" to the city.
Hebert and Brand were members of the LGN Class of 2012, and after much discussion, the two-dozen members agreed that a modern playground that was universally accessible would be an asset to Nashua. They have raised about half of the estimated cost of $250,000 to build the park, with no cost to the city or taxpayers.
Find out what's happening in Nashuawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Since launching a fundraising campaign for the park 18 months ago, some residents and public officials have spoken during Board of Public Works meetings against Greeley Park as a location.
Wrapping up his comments, Williams defended the group's motives, which had been questioned during comments made earlier in the evening.
"Everyone watching tonight, on camera or in this room, needs to understand this is a project with the best of intentions. It started with good people, most of them live within the city limits and all of them work right here in Nashua – and by the way, all of them care deeply about the health and future of this community," Williams said.
He also addressed an earlier comment by a member of the public, who said that "nobody asked them to put their playground in our park."
"They didn't have to go through the leadership program or choose that project. They didn't have to choose to dedicate themselves for two years raising all that money from the private sector or secure grants. They did so because they care about this communit. The least we can do is give them a fair hearing and open mind going into the Dec. 2 hearing," Williams said.
"I applaud these folks, despite the naysaying and 'Chicken Little' syndrome and villainizing from public officials," Williams said.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.