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| By Courtney Llewellyn Reminder Assistant Editor EAST LONGMEADOW The voters of East Longmeadow are invited to attend a Special Town Meeting on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. in the East Longmeadow High School Auditorium to vote upon, among other things, the purchase of more than 90 acres of land by the town for open and recreational space. "Purchasing this will allow us to develop fields and recreational space for families to enjoy," Board of Selectmen Chair Jim Driscoll said. "To even purchase it just for open space, not even recreational space, is something that is sorely needed in the town." Driscoll added that the town is looking to purchase the land in a way that would not require additional taxes. If approved by voters at the Special Town Meeting, the development of the more than 90 acres would be funded through the bonding of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds. This development could include more than nine sports fields, consisting of soccer, football and lacrosse fields and baseball and softball diamonds as well as walking paths and restroom facilities, according to Driscoll. "One of the biggest complaints I get is about the lack or state of our current fields," he stated. CPA funds can only be used to develop land that has not already been developed. "I helped sponsor the CPA for the town, and we've been looking for parcels for the town [to develop] since that," Driscoll told Reminder Publications. "The economy makes the purchase [of this land] more reasonable right now." He continued that the Board of Selectmen have looked at six or seven properties so far, but this particular property is "perfect for a lot of reasons." "I don't know anybody who's not in favor of this," Driscoll said. "The Board of Selectmen, the Department of Public Works Board of Directors and the Community Preservation Committee are all unanimously in favor of it." |