Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

Resident proposes use for Brown Farm

Date: 10/22/2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW — A local resident has come forward with an idea for potential usage of the Brown Farm property.

Resident Heather Cunningham presented the Board of Selectmen with a proposal for recreational use of the property, which had been purchased by the town with Community Preservation Act funds for the purpose of preserving open space.

Board of Selectmen Chair James Driscoll explained that Cunningham had first come to him and he suggested that she appear before the board.

"Heather came to me with a very interesting idea for our largest open space property here in town, the Brown Farm, which was a horse farm," he said. "We purchased that only with the intent of open space, but obviously there's potential for passive and active recreation on that land and Heather came to me with what I thought was a great idea to explore."

Cunningham's plan included the cleaning up of the property and reestablishment of trails to allow for horseback riding, cross-country skiing and other recreational activities as well as the renovation of the house on the property for use by the public.

Cunningham asserted that a positive use of the land would not only improve its current state, but would also allow the town to host organizations such as 4-H.

"From feedback from people, the community wants passive recreation," she said. "The 4-H used to be in town when I was a child and it was just wonderful ... The 4-H has so much to offer. There is money that can come in from the use of venues such as the barn and the stalls and the riding arena.

"There is serious potential. There are numerous people who have already taken interest. Every time I pick up the phone and call someone, they are so excited that there would actually be an area where they could take their horse and go and ride and use the trails. And it's not only for horses, but also for cross country skiing, for hiking [and] for biking," she continued.

Cunningham added that simply having usable land that residents could enjoy quietly would be a benefit for the community.

"We have five colleges in the area. People who are doing midterms and things want to go out and relax and clear their head and take a walk and it would be a wonderful place," she said.

Addressing the house on the property, Cunningham said that her proposal is a much better option than the current plan to raze the building, stating that if properly maintained, "it could stand for another 100 years."

"Whatever we are allowed to do, I don't want to demolish the buildings," she said, adding that she thought the demolition of the buildings on the land "would be a travesty."

"The Brown property is dear to my heart," she said. "When we won our horse in 1977, Harriet Brown's stables was the first place I kept my horse at, so when this property went vacant, I went to the town and asked the Friends of Recreation how to go about pursuing this and what the best avenue to take is."

Driscoll praised Cunningham for her work, calling the Brown property "a gem" and suggested that she work with Recreation Director Colin Drury to discuss the issue, which would be revisited at the board's next meeting on Oct. 30.