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Date: 1/25/2022
HATFIELD – Two questions dominated last week’s Open Space Committee meeting. The first, whether the town should build a pavilion or repair a footbridge, was complicated by the second question: will there be money for it?
Mark Gelotte, a member of the committee, came down firmly in favor of a pavilion in the center of town, on the grounds of Smith Academy, that has been in the works for quite some time.
“This was borne out of Smith Academy as a place, and as a building, and it was designed to fit the setting,” Gelotte said. “It was designed as an homage to Smith Academy, and it was designed, absolutely, so the form follows the function.”
The location of the proposed pavilion, in the park where the original school stood until the 1980s, was landscaped four to five years ago, using town and state money. According to Rich Abbott, chair of the Open Space Committee, the landscaping was based on the original walkways from the school.
“The second part was to build the pavilion,” Abbott said. The design of the proposed structure was based on the original Smith Academy pavilion. “It’s an interesting design, but ... the history is an important part that most people don’t know about.”
Abbott said three designs were considered. Residents voted in favor of a version with benches at each support post, dormers, clerestory windows and a cupola. Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds became available two years ago. The pandemic arrived, supply chain interruptions drove prices of building materials 30 percent higher, and the first request for proposals was posted.
“When it got to May of 2021, $100,000 wouldn’t come close,” Abbott said. The pavilion project drew one bid for $300,000. “So we’re going out to bid in a month or two, to see if the bids will be less expensive. In the meantime, we’ll see if we can get more money.”
The Smith Academy pavilion is competing for funds with the footbridge over the Mill River, adjacent to the Old Mill Dam. That project, according to the discussion, will cost more than $500,000 and see less use. Robert Wagner, chair and at large member of the Community Preservation Committee and alternate chair of the Planning Board, wondered why there was any discussion.
“I’m just surprised the Selectboard didn’t seem to blanche at a $500,000 price tag to repair a walking bridge,” Wagner said, “as opposed to a $300,000 price tag for a new municipal structure.”
A committee member characterized the footbridge project as a future Bridge of Flowers, a Shelburne Falls landmark, and acknowledged the importance of refurbishing the rusty span. Committee members also had reservations about the pavilion project. Abbott informed the committee there will probably be little support from the Selectboard and residents, or the Community Preservation Committee that distributes those funds, for the pavilion at the established price point.
“Quite frankly, I would have a hard time voting for that myself,” Abbott said. “$300,000 for a 24 by 24 [foot] structure?”
Discussion turned to pre-fabricated buildings, which are much cheaper. Abbott priced them at $50,000 to $60,000 for a basic pavilion. Gelotte suggested removing the dormers and cupola of the proposed design to reduce the cost. Abbott steered the committee back toward the structure chosen by residents.
“I think redesign is opening up a can of worms. We want this design and don’t really want to go down that prefab route,” Abbott said. “We want something that will stand the test of time and look good in the center of town. This design was tied into the park, in line with the Town Hall, and the history, but all that goes out the window with a redesign.”
Options for raising money by selling dedications of bricks, pavers and benches came up, money-generating strategies of limited scope. The committee seemed to reach a consensus on the project, to continue to push the same design, custom-built, and post another Request for Proposals in two months, with the hope of generating more reasonable bids.
“If a good bid is received,” Abbott said, “we would still need more money.” He estimated the pavilion will be available to host events in fall 2022, at the earliest. He added, “Big question mark about the costs.”